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Come with something meaningful to give—and discover something meaningful about yourself.
Thrive Retreats is a peaceful bush retreat approximately 90 minutes from Sydney. Our guests come here to step away from everyday pressure, rest and reconnect.
We invite thoughtful, reliable and open-minded people to join our three-week Learning Exchange Experience.
20 hours of help per week
Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Cleaning: Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.
Housekeeping: Help with changing the bed linens and general housekeeping.
Kitchen Hand: Help prepare, finish and serve meals.
2 days off per week
Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.
Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.
Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.
Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.
Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.
Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Yoga classes: Take free yoga classes at our place.
Holistic Therapies: You can take part in any of our therapeutic activities for free.
Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely
Fluent English
Between 18 and 40 years old
Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Help Create Meaningful Retreat Experiences Near Sydney
This is not a formal course. You will learn through real experience: helping others, accepting responsibility, working with a small crew and contributing to the care of our guests.i
During the week, you will generally live and work with only one to three other crew members. This is a quiet rural environment—not a busy hostel or large volunteer community.
On retreat weekends, our guests become our temporary community. You will help create a calm, welcoming experience for people who have come to rest and care for themselves.
Your contribution may include:
* Preparing bedrooms and shared spaces
* Cleaning and housekeeping
* Kitchen assistance and dishes
* Welcoming guests
* Gardening and property care
* General maintenance
* Setting up retreat spaces
* Supporting everyday retreat operations
Some tasks are enjoyable and creative; others are physical, routine or repetitive. We need people willing to contribute wherever reasonably required.
What could you bring?
We would also love to know about your individual skills, interests and life experience.
You might have something to share through:
* Yoga, meditation, mindfulness or breathwork
* Cooking or hospitality
* Gardening, landscaping or maintenance
* Bushwalking or nature-based activities
* Music, movement or art
* Photography, video or social media
* Workshops or group activities
* Administration or retreat operations
You do not need to be an expert. However, anything involving guests must first be approved by the Thrive team.
What you may learn:
Depending on timing, you may gain experience in:
* How a wellness retreat operates
* Creating a caring guest experience
* Hospitality and food preparation
* Meditation and mindfulness
* Caring for a rural bush property
* Working effectively within a small crew
* Communication, initiative and personal responsibility
* Finding meaning through practical service
Who will thrive here?
This experience may suit you if you are:
* Kind, reliable and emotionally mature
* Willing to clean and complete practical task
* Open to feedback and personal reflection
* Comfortable with quiet time and a small crew
* Flexible around the needs of a working retreat centre
* Genuinely motivated to contribute—not simply seeking free accommodation
* People who are hands on and has at least 1 year working experience
* Able to commit to the complete three-week experience
When you prepare a room, help with a meal or care for the property, you are helping create a place where another person can rest and reconnect.
The practical work has a deeper purpose.
The exchange
* Three weeks, spanning three retreat weekends
* Approximately 20 hours each week
* Cabin accommodation
* Cooked meals during retreats
* Ingredients and retreat leftovers between retreats
* Internet and laundry access
* Days off allocated at the beginning of each week
* Thursday pickup and Monday drop-off
* Opportunity to join retreat sessions when off duty, subject to space and facilitator approval
* Sessions may not be available during private hires
Working times vary with the retreat schedule, so reasonable flexibility is important.
What life here is like
**rules:**
🌿 Thrive Retreats Volunteer Guidelines
Welcome to Thrive Retreats. These guidelines help create a peaceful, respectful and supportive environment for everyone. By volunteering with us, you agree to care for the people, the property and the community.
---
🌱 Your Intention
Before you arrive, take a moment to reflect on your intention for your time at Thrive Retreats.
We encourage you to come with:
- An open heart
- A willingness to learn
- A desire to serve
- Respect for yourself, others and nature
- A positive contribution to our community
---
💚 Volunteer Values
Please:
- Serve with kindness, integrity and presence.
- Respect everyone's privacy and confidentiality.
- Communicate respectfully.
- Support one another as a team.
- Care for the property as if it were your own.
---
🚫 Community Expectations
Strictly:
- No alcohol.
- No smoking or vaping.
- No illegal drugs.
- No outside guests.
- No pets.
---
🧘 Volunteer Participation
- Volunteers are welcome to participate in workshops and yoga classes when volunteer duties allow.
- Volunteers are welcome to enjoy retreat meals during retreat days.
- Leftover meals may be enjoyed after each retreat.
---
🏡 Property Access
- During retreats, guest areas are reserved for retreat participants.
- When no retreat is running, volunteers are not permitted to use the Main House or Cottage unless approved by the Retreat Manager.
- During retreats, volunteers should spend their free time in designated volunteer areas, primarily Dream 2, unless undertaking volunteer duties.
---
🔇 Quiet Hours
Creating a peaceful atmosphere is part of the Thrive experience.
During retreats:
- Please keep noise to a minimum around guest accommodation, retreat spaces and the Massage Hut.
- Observe quiet hours from 9:00 pm onwards.
- Speak quietly and be mindful that guests may be resting, meditating or sleeping.
---
🍽️ Volunteer Kitchen
Outdoor Kitchen Only
Important
The outdoor kitchen is the volunteer kitchen.
The indoor kitchen is reserved for retreat operations and is not available for volunteer use unless authorised by the Retreat Manager.
Please:
- Cook all meals in the outdoor kitchen.
- Turn off the gas after cooking.
- Clean as you go.
- Wash, dry and return all dishes immediately.
- Wipe and sanitise benches, stove and sink.
- Sweep the floor if required.
- Leave the kitchen ready for the next person.
This applies to everyone using the kitchen, including volunteers, hosts and facilitators.
If cooking together:
- Share responsibilities fairly.
- Rotate cooking and cleaning duties where possible.
---
🍽️ Volunteer Kitchen Supplies
✅ Provided by Thrive Retreats
- 💧 UV-filtered drinking water
- 🍎 Fresh produce (seasonal fruit, seasonal vegetables, salad ingredients)
- 🥗 Salad dressings and basic sauces
- 🌾 Rice, pasta, couscous, oats and flour
- 🍞 Flour, yeast and bread-making ingredients (volunteers are encouraged to bake their own bread)
- 🫘 Chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans and assorted beans
- 🫒 Olive oil and cooking oil
- 🧂 Salt, sugar, pepper, herbs and spices
- 🥜 Peanut butter, Vegemite and Nutlex
- 🍵 English Breakfast, Green, Loose-leaf Black and Chamomile tea
- 🥛 Full cream, soy and oat milk (shared weekly)
- 🥚 Fresh eggs from the retreat chickens (volunteers are encouraged to help care for the chickens)
❌ Please Bring or Purchase Your Own
- 🍗 Meat and seafood
- 🧀 Cheese, yoghurt and butter
- 🍫 Chocolate, chips, biscuits, lollies and soft drinks
- 💪 Protein powders and specialty foods
- 🥤 Personal beverages
Please Note
- Basic wholesome ingredients are provided for everyday cooking.
- Bring or purchase any specialty foods you require.
- Notify the Retreat Manager if pantry supplies are running low.
- Please do not take food or supplies from the main retreat kitchen without permission.
- Use shared food mindfully so there is enough for everyone.
---
🚗 Transport & Days Off
- Volunteers are welcome to spend their days off relaxing at the retreat.
- If leaving the property, volunteers should organise their own transport or travel with other volunteers.
- Retreat vehicles are not available for volunteers' personal use.
- Retreat vehicles may only be used for authorised retreat business with approval from the Retreat Manager.
---
🧺 Laundry
- Laundry hours are 8:00 am – 6:00 pm to maximise solar energy.
- Use the front-loading washing machine only.
- Dilute detergent in the dispenser tray.
- Clean the lint filter.
- Leave the laundry clean and tidy after use.
---
🚿 Bathrooms
Please:
- Clean up after yourself.
- Wipe benches and shower surfaces.
- Sweep floors when needed.
- Help keep shared bathrooms hygienic.
Shared body wash and hand soap are provided in limited quantities.
Please bring your own:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Personal toiletries
---
🛏️ Accommodation
Please:
- Turn off lights, heaters and appliances when leaving your room.
- Keep showers under 5 minutes.
- Remove shoes before entering accommodation.
- Keep your room clean and tidy.
- Wash your linen at least every two weeks if staying long-term.
---
♻️ Waste & Recycling
- Suitable vegetable scraps may be fed to the chickens.
- Compostable waste goes in the green bin.
- Lemons and limes go in the red bin.
- Yellow bin = Recycling only.
- Red bin = General waste.
---
🔥 Fire Pit
Please:
- Keep the fire pit clean and tidy.
- Ensure ashes are completely cold before disposal.
- Only dispose of cold ashes where there is absolutely no bushfire risk.
---
🔥 Sauna & Plunge Pool
- Volunteers are not permitted to use the sauna or plunge pool during retreats.
- When no retreat is running, volunteers may use the sauna during daylight hours only.
- Please leave the area clean after use.
---
🙏 Thank You
Thank you for being part of the Thrive Retreats community.
Together we create a peaceful, welcoming and respectful environment where everyone has the opportunity to learn, contribute and thrive.
🌿 Thrive Retreats Volunteer Guidelines
Welcome to Thrive Retreats. These guidelines help create a peaceful, respectful and supportive environment for everyone. By volunteering with us, you agree to care for the people, the property and the community.
---
🌱 Your Intention
Before you arrive, take a moment to reflect on your intention for your time at Thrive Retreats.
We encourage you to come with:
- An open heart
- A willingness to learn
- A desire to serve
- Respect for yourself, others and nature
- A positive contribution to our community
---
💚 Volunteer Values
Please:
- Serve with kindness, integrity and presence.
- Respect everyone's privacy and confidentiality.
- Communicate respectfully.
- Support one another as a team.
- Care for the property as if it were your own.
---
🚫 Community Expectations
Strictly:
- No alcohol.
- No smoking or vaping.
- No illegal drugs.
- No outside guests.
- No pets.
---
🧘 Volunteer Participation
- Volunteers are welcome to participate in workshops and yoga classes when volunteer duties allow.
- Volunteers are welcome to enjoy retreat meals during retreat days.
- Leftover meals may be enjoyed after each retreat.
---
🏡 Property Access
- During retreats, guest areas are reserved for retreat participants.
- When no retreat is running, volunteers are not permitted to use the Main House or Cottage unless approved by the Retreat Manager.
- During retreats, volunteers should spend their free time in designated volunteer areas, primarily Dream 2, unless undertaking volunteer duties.
---
🔇 Quiet Hours
Creating a peaceful atmosphere is part of the Thrive experience.
During retreats:
- Please keep noise to a minimum around guest accommodation, retreat spaces and the Massage Hut.
- Observe quiet hours from 9:00 pm onwards.
- Speak quietly and be mindful that guests may be resting, meditating or sleeping.
---
🍽️ Volunteer Kitchen
Outdoor Kitchen Only
Important
The outdoor kitchen is the volunteer kitchen.
The indoor kitchen is reserved for retreat operations and is not available for volunteer use unless authorised by the Retreat Manager.
Please:
- Cook all meals in the outdoor kitchen.
- Turn off the gas after cooking.
- Clean as you go.
- Wash, dry and return all dishes immediately.
- Wipe and sanitise benches, stove and sink.
- Sweep the floor if required.
- Leave the kitchen ready for the next person.
This applies to everyone using the kitchen, including volunteers, hosts and facilitators.
If cooking together:
- Share responsibilities fairly.
- Rotate cooking and cleaning duties where possible.
---
🍽️ Volunteer Kitchen Supplies
✅ Provided by Thrive Retreats
- 💧 UV-filtered drinking water
- 🍎 Fresh produce (seasonal fruit, seasonal vegetables, salad ingredients)
- 🥗 Salad dressings and basic sauces
- 🌾 Rice, pasta, couscous, oats and flour
- 🍞 Flour, yeast and bread-making ingredients (volunteers are encouraged to bake their own bread)
- 🫘 Chickpeas, lentils, kidney beans and assorted beans
- 🫒 Olive oil and cooking oil
- 🧂 Salt, sugar, pepper, herbs and spices
- 🥜 Peanut butter, Vegemite and Nutlex
- 🍵 English Breakfast, Green, Loose-leaf Black and Chamomile tea
- 🥛 Full cream, soy and oat milk (shared weekly)
- 🥚 Fresh eggs from the retreat chickens (volunteers are encouraged to help care for the chickens)
❌ Please Bring or Purchase Your Own
- 🍗 Meat and seafood
- 🧀 Cheese, yoghurt and butter
- 🍫 Chocolate, chips, biscuits, lollies and soft drinks
- 💪 Protein powders and specialty foods
- 🥤 Personal beverages
Please Note
- Basic wholesome ingredients are provided for everyday cooking.
- Bring or purchase any specialty foods you require.
- Notify the Retreat Manager if pantry supplies are running low.
- Please do not take food or supplies from the main retreat kitchen without permission.
- Use shared food mindfully so there is enough for everyone.
---
🚗 Transport & Days Off
- Volunteers are welcome to spend their days off relaxing at the retreat.
- If leaving the property, volunteers should organise their own transport or travel with other volunteers.
- Retreat vehicles are not available for volunteers' personal use.
- Retreat vehicles may only be used for authorised retreat business with approval from the Retreat Manager.
---
🧺 Laundry
- Laundry hours are 8:00 am – 6:00 pm to maximise solar energy.
- Use the front-loading washing machine only.
- Dilute detergent in the dispenser tray.
- Clean the lint filter.
- Leave the laundry clean and tidy after use.
---
🚿 Bathrooms
Please:
- Clean up after yourself.
- Wipe benches and shower surfaces.
- Sweep floors when needed.
- Help keep shared bathrooms hygienic.
Shared body wash and hand soap are provided in limited quantities.
Please bring your own:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Personal toiletries
---
🛏️ Accommodation
Please:
- Turn off lights, heaters and appliances when leaving your room.
- Keep showers under 5 minutes.
- Remove shoes before entering accommodation.
- Keep your room clean and tidy.
- Wash your linen at least every two weeks if staying long-term.
---
♻️ Waste & Recycling
- Suitable vegetable scraps may be fed to the chickens.
- Compostable waste goes in the green bin.
- Lemons and limes go in the red bin.
- Yellow bin = Recycling only.
- Red bin = General waste.
---
🔥 Fire Pit
Please:
- Keep the fire pit clean and tidy.
- Ensure ashes are completely cold before disposal.
- Only dispose of cold ashes where there is absolutely no bushfire risk.
---
🔥 Sauna & Plunge Pool
- Volunteers are not permitted to use the sauna or plunge pool during retreats.
- When no retreat is running, volunteers may use the sauna during daylight hours only.
- Please leave the area clean after use.
---
🙏 Thank You
Thank you for being part of the Thrive Retreats community.
Together we create a peaceful, welcoming and respectful environment where everyone has the opportunity to learn, contribute and thrive.
