Proudly Run by Volunteers

Bringing laughter and play to the community

Wyndham Little Buddies is proudly run each week by a team of generous volunteers. Without them, our toy libraries would not exist. 

Our vision is for Little Buddies to be a safe and welcoming place where volunteers can learn new skills, build meaningful connections and friendships and feel excited to be a part of something meaningful for the local community. 

Why Volunteer

There are so many reasons to volunteer at the Toy Library

Group of 4 friendly monster

  • Get involved in your local community

  • Keep our toy libraries operating

  • Learn new skills

  • Make new friends

  • Have a place of belonging

  • Add it to your resume 

  • Have fun!

Who can volunteer?

We have a diverse range of people who volunteer with us from young people looking for work experience, to parents, retirees and grandparents. We provide support for all volunteers as they learn.  

Toy Library President Kirsten sharing the joys of volunteering with Little Buddies Toy Library

In the past 12 months

10

new committee members join our team

60

regular session volunteers

300+

members complete session duties

What our Volunteers say

  • “I started volunteering at the toy library in early 2021 for my Duke of Edinburgh award that required a certain amount of volunteering hours to complete. However, beyond the set hours of the award I chose to continue to volunteer at the library due to the friendly and forgiving environment. As I continued volunteering and was eventually offered a job I learned key communication skills and how to work in a team effectively. Being my first job meant there were many mistakes to be made but this environment allowed me to learn from them and foster confidence and problem-solving skills.”

    Manilka
    (17 years old)

  • “Volunteering at Little Buddies is such a rewarding way to give back to the community. I started volunteering almost 5 years ago by helping with grant applications and admin. It has been a fantastic way to meet new families and make friends. All while giving back, and helping to grow an organisation I am passionate about."

    Brenda
    (Parent and Committee Member)

  • “I joined the library’s committee about a year ago, and ever since I have seen the library getting better and larger - all thanks to the hard work of the committee. The committee strives to provide excellent user’s experience and build a great collection of quality educational toys! Even more I think we are the only toy library in Victoria that offers such great variety of expensive and smart toys, making it accessible to families who can’t afford spending thousands on toys. My personal experience with Little Buddies has been great - it taught me to be considerate of others, listen and understand other people needs, be kind and give back to the community.”

    Anastasia
    (Parent and Committee Member)

Young woman working at toy library

Session Volunteers

In this essential role, assist the Session Coordinator to:

  • help check toys as they are returned, ensuring they are complete, clean, and in good condition.

  • welcome families into the branch and assist with choosing appropriate toys.

  • put toys away and keep the library clean.

  • complete ad-hoc tasks such as labelling and cataloguing new toys

Time requirement:

Member Roster Duty. Current members complete their roster duty. 2 x 2 hours per membership duration.

Don’t have time to volunteer? You are more than welcome to have a family member to volunteer on your behalf.

Man helping at toy library with toys on trolley and push bike in hand

Become a Regular Volunteer

We are constantly seeking individuals who are interested in volunteering regularly at our toy library branches. Regular volunteers are expected to commit to a minimum of 2 hours per week.

If you are interested in becoming a regular session volunteer, please reach out to us using the button below. One of our friendly coordinators will then get in touch with you promptly.

Group of toy library volunteers
2 toy library volunteers at AGM

Committee Volunteers

Without a team of dedicated committee members, Little Buddies cannot operate. Our team contributes in many different ways, from assembling new toys, to running social media posts or taking minutes at our meetings.

Time commitment for committee members doesn’t have to be extensive – an hour or so a week can make a big difference. Our committee meetings are held online once per month.

As well as making a meaningful contribution to our organisation, you will receive the following benefits:

  • Shaping and maintaining the future of the toy library.

  • Having your committee involvement count towards your roster duty.

  • Testing out new toys before they go on the shelves.

  • Acquiring valuable transferable skills.

  • Working with friendly, like-minded individuals.

Whether you have any specific talents or interests, or just want to get involved, we would love to hear from you. We value our committee members' input in decision-making and welcome your fresh perspective.

To enquire about joining our friendly committee please get in touch with us via the button below.