At the Otago Museum we value community involvement, and have a long tradition of people donating their services through the Association of Friends of Otago Museum, our Honorary Curators, and through the volunteering programme. Volunteers at the Otago Museum don’t replace paid employees; they help us to do extra things which our funding wouldn’t otherwise allow.

Volunteer tasks vary from a few hours to more long term projects. There are opportunities in a variety of areas, such as helping with exhibition set up, working in Discovery World or assisting staff with administration tasks.

People who volunteer have two unique attributes: they work of their own free choice, and they work for reasons other than money. Some of the reasons people give for offering their services voluntarily are:

• To gain work experience and add to a résumé
• Improve self confidence
• Learn new skills
• To get to know people
• A desire to help out the organisation
• To keep active
• Find out what goes on behind the scenes at the Otago Museum
• Give time and skills instead of money
• To benefit particular areas of the Otago Museum which interest them
• To give something back to the community

Whatever your motivation for volunteering at the Otago Museum we would like to help you meet those needs!

Otago Museum also offers Intern Positions which may be of interest to overseas volunteers. For further details please contact volunteer@otagomuseum.govt.nz.

If you would like to become a volunteer at the Otago Museum, please complete this Volunteer Application Form. Please hand deliver it to the Otago Museum at 419 Great King Street, post it to PO Box 6202, Dunedin 9059, or email it to volunteer@otagomuseum.govt.nz.  When your application has been considered, you will be contacted for an interview to discuss in greater detail how you can help. Volunteers may also be required to undertake security checks prior to joining the volunteer team. Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Otago Museum.