Become a Friend
of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital
Volunteer and become a Friend of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital
At the Friends of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital (FWCH), our Volunteers — known as Friends — are the heart of everything we do. Friends are everyday people who give their time, skills, and care to support patients, families, and staff.
As incredible as our existing Friends are, we could always use a few more to step into their shoes, even if its just a few hours a month.
By becoming a Friend, you’ll join a warm, welcoming community that helps make a real difference to the lives of patients and their families.
There are different ways you can become a Friend:
Volunteering in either of our Rainbow Shop or Vic’s Cafe
Join the Queen Victoria Auxiliary
Join one of our Metro Auxiliary
Join one of our 8 Regional Auxiliaries
Meet our Friend Merida
Become a shop Friend
The Rainbow Shop and Vics Cafe are more than just a place to pick up essentials. They are a friendly hub where every purchase helps fund vital services and equipment for women, children, and families.
As a Friend working in the shops, you’ll:
Meet new Friends
Be a welcoming face to visitors, families, and staff
Help with customer service, displays, and sales
Know that your time directly supports hospital care
Help raise funds that directly support patients and families
Be part of a friendly, supportive volunteer team
Experience the joy of giving back right at the heart of the hospital
Rostered shifts are tailored to suit the availability of each volunteer that joins the team
Free carparking and lunch is provided to all volunteers whilst on shift
Friends also provide opportunities for volunteers to enhance and develop their skillset.
If you have a specific set of skills that you would like to use we have skilled based roles which you may like to leverage or develop your specialised skills and talents to strengthen the infrastructure of the Friends.
Meet our Friend Jill
Become a Friend of the Queen Victoria Auxiliary
The Queen Victoria Auxiliary is one of our longest-standing groups of Friends, with a proud tradition of supporting the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for generations.
This Auxiliary is dedicated to raising funds for the Women’s and Babie’s Division of the hospital, helping provide specialised equipment and care for premature and seriously ill babies.
As a Friend of the Queen Victoria Auxiliary you’ll
Support lifesaving care for newborns and their families
Be part of a group with a strong history of giving back
Help organise events, fundraisers, and community projects
Build friendships while making a real difference
As a Friend of the Queen Victoria Auxiliary, you’ll be helping our tiniest patients fight their biggest battles.
Meet our Friend Fran
Become a Regional Friend
Not everyone can be close to the hospital, but Friends reach far beyond its walls. Our Regional Auxiliaries are the heart of community support across South Australia. They bring people together to raise funds and awareness for the Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN), ensuring families from rural and regional areas receive the care they need.
As a Friend in a regional Auxiliary, you’ll:
Join a dedicated group of volunteers in your community
Support fundraising events, from morning teas to community fairs
Help rural families who rely on the WCHN
Help organise community events, fundraisers, and social gatherings
Support rural families who travel to Adelaide for care
Build friendships while making a real difference in your community
Together, Friends help support the journey for children, women, and families when they need it most. You’ll be part of a proud tradition — one that has raised millions over the last 60 years to support children and families.
Why I’m a Friend.
Jo from The Friends of the Women's & Children's Hospital (Friends) shares her experience working at the Rainbow’s Shop and how our Shops Auxiliary raises funds to support the vital work of The Women's and Children's Hospital.
“ You can often bring a smile to people’s faces and that is incredibly rewarding. ”
We need more Friends!
Become a Friend of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and support families across both metropolitan and regional South Australia. You’ll meet kind-hearted people, feel part of a warm and welcoming community, and help make lives a little brighter. Just a few hours a month can make a real difference. If you’d like to volunteer, please don’t hesitate to contact us — we’d love to meet you.
FAQs
Simply complete the online application form to become a volunteer.
We have volunteers who volunteer with us at Vic’s and Rainbows on a regular basis: weekly, fortnightly or monthly, as well as volunteers who are with us once a year for special events. Auxiliary Members volunteer on a regular basis organising fundraising actives and events across the year.
Skilled volunteer roles will have a set period of time required to completed the project.
However much time you can commit to volunteering with Friends, we are grateful for your support and dedication.
Volunteers are required to attend Orientation and Mandatory Training Sessions and any other training which may assist them in the performance of their duties.
Development days and/or work shops are arranged from time to time to train, inform and motivate volunteers. All volunteers are encouraged to attend these events.
This is provided by Friends at no cost to our volunteers.
We are committed to the safety of our staff, members, volunteers and customers. Every Shops Auxiliary volunteer is required to have a state based Working with Children Check (WWCC)
This is faciliated and provded by Friends at no cost to volunteers.
Friends Members join a particular Auxiliary group to assist with fundraising events on an ad hoc basis, while Friends Volunteers make a regular commitment to volunteering within the volunteer shops (Rainbows and Vic’s) or Friends office located at The Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
The Friends of the WCH Inc. is made up of three service Divisions:
Auxiliaries Division which organises community fundraising events and activities throughout South Australia.
Queen Victoria Auxiliary Division which fundraises through organising events and activities on behalf of the Women’s and Babies area of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
Shops Auxiliary Division which operates a kiosk in each of the two entry foyers of the Women’s & Children’s Hospital.
When completing your online volunteer application, let us know which division and auxiliary you prefer.
Have further questions?
Feel free to contact us for more information about our volunteering program.