Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the links to find the answers to some of our more commonly asked questions. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please use the search facility in the top right corner of our site or contact us.

Questions

How do I become a volunteer?
What do volunteers do in Kings Park and Bold Park?
What is a Volunteer Information Session?
What is the Branch Out program?
How do I become a Kings Park Volunteer Guide?
Who are the Kings Park Volunteer Master Gardeners?
Who are the Friends of Kings Park?
Who are the Honour Avenues Group?
Who are the Friends of Bold Park Bushland?
Do all volunteers have to be trained?
How often will I have to commit to ‘working’?
Can I do work experience with you?
Can we bring a corporate group in to Kings Park for a tree planting/team-building day and have a BBQ afterwards?
What is Rio Tinto Naturescape in Kings Park?
Where can I find out more information?

Answers

1. How do I become a volunteer?

You can:

Attend a Kings Park Volunteer Information Session to find out more about all the volunteer roles on offer.
Download our brochure Volunteer in Kings Park and Botanic Garden and and submit a Volunteer Application Form.
Join Branch Out: an introductory program for those who would like to get involved with Kings Park and Bold Park, but are not able to make a regular volunteering commitment.
Join one of our five volunteer groups (regular commitment and training required).

2. What do volunteers do in Kings Park and Bold Park?

Volunteers are involved in a variety of roles and groups:
Welcoming visitors, guiding and education
Garden care
Bushland care & restoration
Promoting the use of native plants in all gardens
Conservation work
Kings Park events (e.g., Kings Park Festival)
Caring for the Honour Avenues
Rio Tinto Naturescape in Kings Park (connecting children with nature)

3. What is a Volunteer Information Session?

Kings Park have introduced a series of Volunteer Information Sessions for interested members of the public. All new and prospective volunteers are encouraged to attend.

These enjoyable sessions provide information about the volunteer roles available and give you an opportunity to meet relevant staff and experienced volunteers.

Contact us for upcoming dates and to register your interest in attending a Volunteer Information Session. Dates are posted to our events calendar.

4. What is the Branch Out program?

Branch Out is an introductory program for prospective volunteers and other members of the community who wish to know more about what’s happening in Kings Park and Bold Park. This free program is particularly aimed at people who are unable to make a regular volunteer commitment to the park and those on waiting lists for our volunteer training programs.

5. Who are the Kings Park Guides?

The Kings Park Volunteer Guides are a dynamic group who provide daily guided walks for visitors and run the Visitor Information Centre. These volunteers are highly regarded for their exceptional quality of service.

6. Who are the Kings Park Master Gardeners?

The Kings Park Volunteer Master Gardeners are an extraordinary group of volunteers who provide a free garden advisory service, manage the Backyard Botanicals demonstration garden in the Synergy Parkland and hold public talks. They are also actively involved in plant-breeding and conservation projects.

Read more about the Kings Park Volunteer Master Gardeners...

7. Who are the Friends of Kings Park?

The Friends of Kings Park are a large community organisation who operate five distinct volunteer groups:

Bushland Carers: care for native bushland in Kings Park. Weekend and week-day groups.
Garden Carers: hands-on horticulture in the botanic garden and other high profile areas of Kings Park.
Orchid Carers: grow and care for native orchids found in Kings Park.
Growing Carers: propagate and grow plants in the nursey for Friends plant sales.
Office Carers: administrative support.

Many members are not active volunteers, but join the Friends to keep up with what’s happening in Kings Park and to provide support through their membership fees.

8. Who are the Honour Avenues Group?

The Honour Avenues Group are a small group of returned service men and women. New members must also be members of the Highgate Sub-branch of the Returned and Services League.

9. Who are the Friends of Bold Park Bushland?

The Friends of Bold Park Bushland have a long-held commitment to protecting Bold Park in Floreat. Members are actively involved in bushland regeneration projects, attend informative talks and receive a regular newsletter.

The group has recently established a new group of volunteer guides, who are leading public walks in Bold Park.

10. Do all volunteers have to be trained?

Most volunteers are required to do at least some training (except for the Branch Out program).

This is due to the very sensitive nature of the Kings Park environment and because we want to provide a consistently high standard of service to our visitors. We also believe that providing quality training results in a more rewarding volunteer experience.

Training ranges from ‘on the job’ with the Garden and Bushland Carers, to dedicated training courses for the Kings Park Volunteer Master Gardeners and the Kings Park Volunteer Guides.

11. How often will I have to commit to ‘working’?

Most volunteer roles in Kings Park require a regular commitment, depending on the role you’re interested in.

Some volunteers choose to come more often; some positions require less of a commitment. Most roles average around two shifts per month.

12. Can I do work experience with you?

Some opportunities for work experience are available for secondary, university and TAFE students studying relevant courses. These are very popular and the positions fill quickly.

All positions are unpaid.
Secondary and TAFE positions are for 1-2 weeks.
University placements are 1-3 months.
There is no student or professional exchange program.

13. Can we bring a corporate group in to Kings Park for a tree planting/team-building day and have a BBQ afterwards?

There are limited places available per year for corporate groups to take part in group volunteering days in Kings Park. Mass-planting days are rare and tend to be offered to our regular volunteers.

Corporate groups are encouraged to consider an Employee Volunteer Partnership, which involves a commitment of one to five years to see through a conservation or bush restoration project in Kings Park. We believe these partnerships offer the most meaningful way for your employees to contribute and benefit from volunteering.

14. What is Rio Tinto Naturescape in Kings Park?

Rio Tinto Naturescape in Kings Park is a new and exciting interactive environmental discovery project which creates opportunities for the Western Australian community, in particular children, to have real-life contact and experience with the nature. Exciting new volunteer roles are available.

15. Where can I find out more information?

You can find most information about supporting the Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority within this section of our website. You may like to download our Volunteer in Kings Park brochure below or contact the BGPA Volunteer Coordinator for further details.

pdf Download BGPA Volunteer brochure 2.03 MB