Our Volunteers
As a not-for-profit organisation, Australian Lions Hearing Dogs is strongly supported by our community of volunteers. Many people generously give their time and energy to help keep ALHD sustainable and assist our dogs and recipients. Their efforts take place at our National Training Centre, locally in our community and across Australia, as puppies live with volunteer Foster Carers who give of their lives and their own homes over for the 7-8 months they spend together.
In addition, Lions Club members from around Australia provide support in various capacities, for instance: trained regional Lions Club members provide delivery support for recipients and their dogs, and participate in fundraising activities. Our Board monitors operational efficiency and gives guidance toward the organisation.
At ALHD’s National Training Centre in the Adelaide Hills, Training Centre Volunteers generously give their time through a weekly roster supporting the health, hygiene, fitness, and training of our dogs.
In addition to ALHD’s training staff, trained volunteers from Lions Clubs around Australia perform initial applicant assessments, visit new recipients 3 times a week during the first 3 months of a dog’s placement, and continue with support visits through the working life of the dogs. Strong relationships are often formed between the Lions Club and recipient, creating an additional local support network for each recipient. This is often the case when new recipients live in regional areas, which represents approximately 70% of cases.
Lions Clubs around Australia conduct fundraising events and activities throughout the year, and support numerous Lions Clubs of Australia community projects. Australian Lions Hearing Dogs is one of the leading national Lions projects.
Are you interested in volunteering?
We’d love to hear from you. We are always in need of volunteers from Foster Carers, to Administration and Fundraising. Please contact us to register your interest.
Volunteer Hours Contributed to ALHD – 2019
| Volunteer Function | Hours per Year | Average per Month | Average per Week |
| Training Centre Volunteers | 1,950 | 163 | 36 |
| Lions Volunteers Pre Accreditation/Delivery Support | 900 | 75 | 17 |
| Lions Volunteers Applicant Assessment | 36 | 3 | 6 |
| Lions Clubs Volunteer Fundraising | 19,200 | 1,600 | 368 |
| ALHD Board | 270 | 22 | 6 |
| Lions Districts ALHD District Chairman | 2,076 | 173 | 40 |
| Puppy Foster Carers | 86,688 | 7,224 | 1,666 |
| Lions Club of Australian Hearing Dogs | 1,200 | 100 | 21 |
| TOTALS: | 112,323 | 9,360 | 2,160 |
