QLD Variety Kids Motor Mouth Camp 2025- Volunteer Application

The Variety Motor Mouth Camp is a three day / two-night camp, running from Friday 7th of November to Sunday 9th of November 2025 at the Gold Coast Recreation Centre.

The camp for children aged 6-17 years who use Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) voice output devices, their parents/carers and their siblings. 

The whole family attends to learn more about how to incorporate communication into everyday fun activities. Families can also invite their support worker to attend as well. 

The camp will be overseen by Variety Queensland Staff and a range of volunteer Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapist, as well as Speech Pathology and OT students and other volunteers. 

Applications are now being received for families and volunteers. Applications are sought from volunteers who are willing to stay for the full duration of the camp. Part time volunteers may also be considered. Please note that volunteers are not required to stay overnight but are most welcome to do so. Accommodation and food are provided. 

The primary aim of the camp is for children using AAC to improve their system use and become more competent communicators in a fun and relaxing environment, with the support of their family. 

There are two types of roles which volunteers can undertake at camp.

AAC Trained Professional: In this role you are the primary mentor to a camper and their family (we aim to have one trained professional volunteer per family. 

AAC Trained Professionals are: 

• Speech Pathologist
• Occupational Therapist
• Other professionals with AAC Training and expertise

AAC Support Professional: In this role you will provide additional support when needed to the camper and their family, back up to the primary mentor and in the case of students, learn and gain professional development. 

AAC Support Professionals are: 

• Speech Pathologist (no or minimal AAC Training) 
• Speech Pathology student 
• Occupational Therapist
• Occupational Therapist Student
• Physiotherapist
• Support Worker 
• Teacher
• Education Assistant
• Other Allied Health Professional

Sibling recreational support workers

• Assist sibling recreational support coordinator to run fun activities for the siblings of children who use AAC that are attending camp

The Camp Committee are responsible for planning all aspects of camp including all activities. 

Volunteers will support the Camp Committee to deliver the camp program in the following ways: 

• Welcoming families and showing them around, orientation to camp 
• Working with individual campers and their families to show them how to maximize communication within fun activities. 
• Working in small groups to facilitate activities: please note we plan all the activities in advance and have the resources and instructions ready to go. 
• Scaffolding and modifying activities to suit the needs of the camper
• Helping campers to stay regulated, using positive behaviour supports
• Creating communication opportunities within activities and at other times like dinner and group activities. 
• Providing feedback and chatting to parents about communication and other goals
• Encouraging and teaching siblings and parents to be good communication partners
• Demonstrating positive communication partner skills and modelling total communication within all activities
• Supporting families throughout the camp, this could be helping with their bags, or setting up their equipment, or just having some fun outside together
• Assisting with sibling recreation program alongside venue staff
• Other camp duties such as tidying up, setting up activities, packing away etc. 

Please note: all volunteers are required to have a Working with Children Blue Card.