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Volunteer With Us

Help us bring more of Japan to you

Whether you have a passion for Japanese arts and culture or simply want to lend a hand, The Japan Foundation, Sydney, is always looking for volunteers. We have a wide variety of events throughout the year, including exhibitions, workshops, and screenings. Volunteering with us is a great opportunity to:

  • Share your interest in Japanese culture with others
  • Meet like-minded volunteers and make new friends
  • Gain experience working in a unique cross-cultural environment

Sign Up

Volunteering is as simple as clicking the sign-up button below. Once registered as a volunteer, you can apply for roles and tasks in your area of interest. We’ll send you relevant opportunities as they become available throughout the year.

Sign Up

What types of experiences can I get?

Office experiences

  • Assisting with basic office tasks such as mail outs, promotions, and data entry
  • Assisting with basic administrative tasks at the library/gallery reception desk

Event experience

  • Setting up the venue for education programs and cultural events
  • Assisting with exhibition openings, language seminars, etc.
  • Assisting with exhibition installations

FAQ

What are the requirements to become a volunteer?

You must be 18 or over and able to speak conversational English.

Do I need to be able to speak Japanese?

Japanese language skills are not required, but will be beneficial.

Do I need to be in Sydney to volunteer?

Volunteers will need to travel to The Japan Foundation, Sydney office to perform tasks.

*Exceptions are Japanese Film Festival-related events. Volunteers are encouraged to apply to volunteer at their local major city.

Are volunteers covered by insurance?

Yes, if a volunteer is injured while performing tasks assigned by The Japan Foundation, Sydney.

If you have more questions, email us at volunteer_sy(A)jpf.go.jp.

Volunteer Testimonials

Anne

Volunteering for The Japan Foundation, Sydney has been a great honour; the people you will meet are so incredibly friendly, respectful and considerate, and the environment is a pleasant mix of the Japanese and Western workplace, so you really learn a lot. You get to discover some interesting movies from the Japanese Film Festival and practice your language skills too! I would definitely volunteer again – no questions asked.

Kerensa

I started volunteering for The Japan foundation, Sydney from June 2014 and from then, I have learnt to experience working in different environments from doing data entry to working with children for festive events. Working with The Japan Foundation has always felt easy going; making sure you feel at home and won’t hesitate in helping you with problems you might come across. Though speaking Japanese is not required, their friendliness and enthusiasm allows for practicing and learning the Japanese language, and is especially good for those like myself who are studying Japanese language and culture. Volunteering with them has always been a fun and great learning opportunity in many ways, and I’ll be continuing to do so this year, and the years after!

Ben

I have very fond memories of volunteering at the Japanese Film Festival. It seemed like everyone was excited about being there, so I connected with people quickly, not just with the volunteers but also the organizers. There was great a mix of cultural backgrounds and nationalities, and we all shared a common interest in Japanese culture and global cinema. After we finished work, the volunteers were usually allowed to watch a film together, and a thank-you party was thrown at the end of the festival for the volunteers. It was lovely!

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