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Adult Volunteer Program
Our diverse range of adult volunteer programs offer fulfilling opportunities that positively impact patients, families, and staff at SickKids. No matter what stage of life you’re in, we invite you to join our community of compassionate volunteers.
There are three main adult volunteer programs: Administrative, Hospital Support, and Child Life. Our programs are designed for long-term volunteering, with the flexibility to extend your placement if you meet the attendance requirements.
Each program is designed to offer a fulfilling volunteer experience while making a significant impact on the lives of our patients and their families. We invite you to join us in our commitment to providing exceptional care and support at SickKids.
Apply to be a SickKids volunteer!
Note: if you don’t see any opportunities posted for this program, please refer to the application timelines for the next intake.
As a Child Life volunteer, you will:
- Volunteer in clinical settings: Including inpatient units, day treatment areas and recreational spaces.
- Support the Child Life team: Engage in developmentally appropriate activities with patients, helping the professional staff in their mission.
- Interact with patients and families: Spend time in playrooms and patient rooms, offering companionship, support and respite to patients.
- Meet non-medical needs: Take the initiative to identify and address the non-medical needs of patients, caregivers and staff, fostering a nurturing environment.
- Maintain play spaces: Ensure that playrooms are well-stocked, safe and clean, creating a pleasant space for healing and play.
Note: individuals interested in this program should be comfortable wearing personal protective equipment (e.g., gown, gloves, masks, N95 respirators) as many of the placements require entering isolation rooms.
As a Hospital Support volunteer, you will:
- Welcome families: Create a warm and inviting atmosphere in waiting areas and auxiliary services, making families and visitors feel at home.
- Act as a liaison: Serve as a crucial connection between families and staff, ensuring clear communication and support.
- Answer inquiries: Provide helpful information to families and visitors, addressing their questions and concerns.
- Assist with clerical tasks: Support staff with non-clinical tasks, contributing to the overall efficiency of the hospital.
- Provide visitor support: Offer assistance and comfort to visitors, family members and patients, enhancing their hospital experience.
Our volunteers are integral to our operations, assisting with a variety of tasks including:
- Direct patients and visitors: Guide families to clinic areas throughout the hospital, ensure a smooth and welcoming experience.
- Clerical assistance: Support clinic areas with reception and administrative tasks using the hospital’s electronic medical record system (Epic), helping maintain a streamlined workflow.
- Administrative tasks: Perform data entry, mailing, scanning and upload documents, contributing to the hospital's administrative efficiency.
- Communication support: Field telephone calls and make patient reminder calls, providing a vital link between patients and healthcare providers.
- Office staff assistance: Help office staff with daily tasks and special projects, playing a key role in the behind-the-scenes work of the hospital.
Volunteer Commitment
Each program runs year-round in four-month sessions. We require a commitment of one three-hour shift on the same day and time each week. Volunteer shifts are available seven days a week, in the morning, afternoon, and evening.
Please note evening and weekend shifts are limited in the Child Life and Hospital Support Volunteer Programs. The Administrative Volunteer Program operates Monday - Friday, with shifts in the morning or afternoon only.
Here’s what you'll need
To be eligible for the program, you must:
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Commit to one weekly three-hour shift (same day and time) over the course of four months.
- Attend the orientation date(s) indicated on the posting.
- Be confident in your ability to meet or exceed the attendance requirement.
- Be willing to complete the onboarding requirements, some of which have associated costs that are your responsibility.
- Maintain an attendance rate of at least 85 per cent during the session. Please consider your work, school, vacation and other commitments carefully before applying. We may not be able to accommodate frequent or extended absences, so appreciate your understanding of the need for reliability in our volunteer program.
By meeting your attendance commitment, you can continue into the next session without reapplying. To remain active, you must volunteer two out of three sessions per year and not take off more than four consecutive months.
Note: Individuals with a master’s degree in Child Life are not eligible to volunteer in the Child Life Volunteer Program.
Is volunteering at SickKids in the Adult Volunteer Program a good fit for you?
Ask yourself these questions to find out!
Session dates and application timelines
| Volunteer Session | Information Sessions | Application Month |
| Winter (January - April) | September | October |
| Summer (May - August) | January | February |
| Fall (September - December) | May | June |
Information sessions
Join our information sessions to learn more about the Adult Volunteer Program. Held every September, January, and May, these sessions are available both in-person and virtually, providing you with additional information about the upcoming session.
Registration links will be posted 2 weeks prior to the sessions.
While attending an information session is optional and won't affect your chances of being accepted into the program, it can be beneficial if you:
- Are unsure about applying after reviewing “Is volunteering at SickKids in the Adult Volunteer Program a good fit for you?”
- Want to know more about what to expect in each volunteer role
- Have additional questions about the application and onboarding process after reading through Becoming a Volunteer
Please note that these sessions do not cover high school or research volunteer opportunities.
This is a great opportunity to get all your questions answered and learn more about how you can make a difference!
Fraser, Adult Volunteer
Fulfilling. Engaging. Enjoyable. These are the three words that immediately come to mind when writing about my experience volunteering at SickKids.
The opportunity to provide support to parents and children is only made possible by the dedicated work of the Volunteer Resources department.
Toni, Adult Volunteer
I have always dreamed about working in paediatrics, and volunteering at SickKids has confirmed that dream for me. The ability to provide children and their families a sense of normalcy during challenging times motivates me to stay a dedicated volunteer. The smiles and moments of joy are truly priceless, making the time I spend at SickKids very meaningful.
No need to reapply! Once you become an active volunteer and meet our attendance requirements, you'll be given the chance to continue volunteering in subsequent sessions. Whether you choose to stay for four months, four years or, as some of our dedicated volunteers do, over twenty-five years, we value your commitment and welcome your ongoing participation.
Yes, you are welcome to apply for multiple Adult Volunteer opportunities that interest you. Whether you're passionate about one specific program or open to various opportunities, we welcome your application.
However, please note that applying for multiple roles does not increase your chances of being selected for a placement. Once you’re selected for a role, you will need to complete your first session before considering a switch to another program.
Our volunteers are a vital part of our team, and we strive to ensure that each person is matched with a role that best suits their interests and the needs of our patients, families, and staff.
Our Adult Volunteer Programs are designed as short-term, four-month commitments. To maintain consistency for our patients, families, and staff, and to ensure a rewarding experience for you, we require a minimum attendance of 85 per cent. If you're considering an extended vacation or multiple shorter breaks, we recommend applying for a session when you can commit to the full four months. This way, you can fully engage with our community and make the most of your volunteer experience.
As a dedicated volunteer, you are expected to attend your assigned weekly shift consistently throughout the session. However, we understand that unexpected circumstances may arise. In such cases, make-up shifts could be available, depending on the specific placement area and the number of volunteers. We strive to accommodate your needs while ensuring our commitment to the hospital's operations.
To provide as many individuals as possible with the opportunity to volunteer, new volunteers are initially limited to one shift. After completing your first session, you may express interest in an additional placement, which can often be accommodated. Please note that volunteer hours are capped at 15 hours per week to ensure a balanced experience for all.
While our volunteer programs are not designed to provide shadowing or observation opportunities for clinicians, we understand the curiosity and eagerness to learn about health-care professions. Unfortunately, such opportunities are reserved for health professionals and are not available to undergraduate students or the general population.
Our volunteer programs do not qualify for academic credit or fulfill course requirements. For those seeking student placement opportunities, we invite you to explore the Health Discipline Learners and Becoming a Research Student or Fellow sites for more information. We appreciate your interest and encourage you to pursue these alternative paths for academic advancement.
Yes, at any point during your commitment, Volunteer Resources is happy to act as a verifier or provide a verification letter confirming your involvement and the hours you’ve already dedicated. Please remember we can only verify the hours you have completed. For those with aspirations of medical school or other graduate programs, supervisor references are evaluated individually and granted at the supervisor’s discretion. These guidelines are in place to ensure we provide meaningful and accurate references reflecting your contributions and performance.