Volunteer or Become a Mentor
Whether you have time, skills, or lived experience to share, there is a place for you in the NCDT community.
Volunteers and mentors are how NCDT extends its reach beyond what funding alone can provide.
Why your contribution matters
Your experience is worth more than you think.
Clearance Divers are among the most capable people in the Royal Australian Navy. But transition, hardship, and the weight of service can affect anyone, and the support gap for this small, specialised community is real.
NCDT is a volunteer-driven charity. Every contribution, whether that is an afternoon at a fundraising event, a professional skill offered freely, or a conversation with a CD who is navigating transition, helps us reach more people who need it.
You do not need to be a Clearance Diver to volunteer. You do need to want to help.
Ways to volunteer
We welcome volunteers who can support our work in the following areas:
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Event support: Help at NCDT fundraising and community events. Tasks include set-up, registration, and coordination.
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Fundraising support: Assist with community fundraising activities, online campaigns, or charity initiatives.
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Skills-based volunteering: Offer professional skills such as communications, design, administration, finance, or legal support to help the trust operate effectively.
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Community outreach: Help connect the NCDT with organisations, employers, and community groups who can support Clearance Divers.
To discuss volunteering, contact us at chairman@ncdt.org.au.
Need immediate financial support? This is a Transition and Resilience Fund program. For hardship now, the NCDT Relief Fund may be more appropriate.
How to get started
Getting involved is straightforward. Whether you want to volunteer at an event, offer a professional skill, or step into the mentoring program, the process starts with a simple expression of interest.
The Clearance Diver Mentoring Program
A peer-to-peer program connecting transitioning Clearance Divers with experienced civilian CDs who have already made the journey.
The Clearance Diver Mentoring Program complements the CD Professional Coaching Program by offering something coaching alone cannot: shared experience. A mentor who has lived the same transition, navigated the same civilian systems, and come out the other side.
This is a peer-to-peer model built on trust, camaraderie, and genuine understanding. Mentors provide practical support, help mentees navigate civilian processes, and offer ongoing moral support through transition.
The program is funded through the NCDT Transition and Resilience Fund.
Who can become a mentor
Mentors are ex-serving Clearance Divers who have successfully transitioned to civilian life and are willing to offer their time and experience to a CD who is currently going through it.
Eligibility criteria:
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Ex-serving Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diver
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Successfully transitioned to civilian life
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Willingness to give back and support a fellow CD through transition
What mentors do
Mentors are not coaches. Their role is peer support: honest conversation, practical guidance on navigating civilian systems and processes, and being a consistent point of contact for someone who understands what the transition actually involves.
There is no script. The connection is built on shared identity and experience.
- FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are unsure whether volunteering or mentoring is right for you, or you have questions about how either works, the answers below should help. You are also welcome to contact us directly.
Do I need to be a Clearance Diver to volunteer?
No. General volunteering is open to anyone in the community who wants to support the NCDT’s work. The mentoring program is specifically for ex-serving Clearance Divers.
Is the Clearance Diver Mentoring Program part of the coaching program?
The mentoring program complements the CD Professional Coaching Program. Coaching is delivered by approved professional coaches. Mentoring is a peer-to-peer program, CD to CD. They are distinct, but designed to work alongside each other.
Which NCDT fund supports the mentoring program?
The Clearance Diver Mentoring Program is funded through the NCDT Transition and Resilience Fund. This fund focuses on prevention programs that support Clearance Divers before crisis point. If you or someone you know needs immediate financial support, the NCDT Relief Fund may be able to help. Visit our Support page or contact us directly.
I am currently serving. Can I apply to be a mentor?
The mentoring program is open to ex-serving Clearance Divers. If you are still serving and approaching transition, you may be eligible for the CD Professional Coaching Program. See the Coaching Program page for details.
What if I need support rather than wanting to give it?
That is completely understandable. If you or someone you know is seeking help, head to our Support page or request support directly. If you are in crisis, please reach out now: Open Arms 1800 011 046 (24/7) or ADF All-Hours Support Line 1800 628 036.
