Volunteering ACT

02/06/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🏳️‍🌈

Our communities are stronger and vibrant because of the many cultures, languages, and stories that shape us.

VolunteeringACT is an organisation that lives and breathes its values. These include inclusion and diversity where we celebrate diversity and promote inclusion.

We stand proudly with our LGBTQIA+ stakeholders, staff and volunteers who each contribute to a more inclusive Canberra that values volunteering and connection. 💜

👉️ To know ways to be involved and be an ally, click here: https://www.meridianact.org.au/cbr_pride_hub

02/06/2026

Volunteer spotlight! 😍

This National Reconciliation Week, we are shining a light on the positive contributions volunteers from First Nations heritage make to the ACT community. 🎉

Amy is a proud Gamilaroi woman, born and bred on Ngunnawal Country.

Amy is the founder of Dream Danz Studios and the winner of the Canberra Region 2025 First Nations Volunteer of the Year Award.

Amy supports First Nations students and families from low socioeconomic backgrounds by creating an inclusive, supportive, and accessible environment where every child can grow in confidence and participate in the arts.

Volunteering has strengthened Amy’s confidence, adaptability, and ability to create inclusive and supportive environments.

“What I enjoy most about volunteering is seeing students grow not only in their dance ability, but also in their confidence, resilience, and development as individuals. Some of my most memorable moments have been seeing students achieve things they never thought possible, both on and off the stage, and knowing I have played a small part in supporting their journey.”

Amy believes that volunteering is an incredibly rewarding experience.

“My advice to anyone thinking about volunteering would be to just start. Even small contributions can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life, and the connections, skills, and experiences you gain along the way are invaluable.” 💙

01/06/2026

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

In the spirit of this week, we are excited to re-share our comprehensive guide tailored to meeting the cultural needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander volunteers.

This guide offers practical and accessible tools to enhance cultural safety within volunteer involving organisations and to better engage with volunteers from First Nations heritage. It includes valuable tips on understanding, healing, and developing positive relationships between organisations and First Nations communities.

👉️ Read the guide here:https://volunteeringact.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/A-Guide-to-Meeting-the-Cultural-Needs-of-Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-Volunteers-VolunteeringACT-July-2023.pdf

29/05/2026

VolunteeringACT City Walk office and Community Info Hub will be closed on Monday, 1 June for the Reconciliation Day public holiday.

📆 The City Walk office will reopen at 9:00am on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.
📆 The Community Info Hub will reopen at 10:00am on Tuesday, 2 June 2026.

During this time, if you or someone you know are experiencing an emergency, please call 000.

If you or someone you know is looking for support, please contact:

👆️ LIFELINE Crisis Support: 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/
👆️ Domestic Violence Crisis Support Line: (02) 6280 0900
👆️ 13 YARN, talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter: 13 92 76 https://www.13yarn.org.au/
👆️ Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
👆️ Su***de Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
👆️ MensLine Australia: 1300 78 99 78 (24/7) https://menslink.org.au/
👆️ Kids Helpline: 1800 551 822 (24/7) https://kidshelpline.com.au/
👆️ Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling: 1800 011 046 (24/7) https://www.openarms.gov.au/
👆️ Drug and Alcohol Support Line: (02) 6207 9977

27/05/2026

Financial support is now available for volunteer leaders to attend the 2026 National Volunteering Conference in Adelaide!

Co-hosted by Volunteering Australia and Volunteering SA&NT, the conference will take place from 16–18 June 2026 at Adelaide University’s National Wine Centre under the theme: Innovation and Impact: Reimagining Volunteering.

Thanks to funding from the Department of Social Services (DSS), financial support is available to help volunteer leaders from across Australia attend the conference, with support covering:
✔ Registration
✔ Travel
✔ Accommodation

Applications are open to paid and unpaid volunteer leaders from every State and Territory.

📅 Key dates:
Applications close: 5:00 PM (ACST), Thursday 4 June 2026
Successful applicants notified by: Friday 5 Jun 2026

Learn more under the National Volunteering Conference Financial Support section and apply: https://hubs.li/Q04hYWSs0

27/05/2026

VolunteeringACT is proud to celebrate National Reconciliation Week.

We will be part of the 2026 Reconciliation Day celebrations at John Dunmore Lang Place Park on Monday, 1 June 2026.

Visit our stall to learn more about volunteering in Canberra.

Click on the link below to know more about Reconciliation Day celebrations.

👉https://www.act.gov.au/community/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-peoples/reconciliation-day

26/05/2026

VolunteeringACT is proud to celebrate National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2026 with the theme 'All In’, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every day.

We acknowledge that volunteering means different things in many cultures and we have much to learn from how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples care for community and culture. We reflect on how all Australians can learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and contribute to reconciliation in Australia.

VolunteeringACT is an organisation that lives and breathes its values. These include inclusion and diversity where we welcome and involve people from all experiences and backgrounds.

We stand proudly with our First Nations stakeholders, staff and volunteers who each contribute to a more inclusive Canberra that values reconciliation and connection.

Know more: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/our-work/national-reconciliation-week/

25/05/2026

We value and welcome people from all experiences and backgrounds. Our communities are stronger and vibrant because of the many cultures, languages, and stories that shape us.

This National Sorry Day, VolunteeringACT acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who were forcibly removed from their families and communities.

Today is a reminder to recognise the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation.

25/05/2026

25/05/2026

🎉

We are proud to share our new resource – the Ethical volunteering checklist for volunteering involving organisations – launched last week at the 2026 Volunteering Conference. 😍

This checklist ensures volunteering efforts are steered by ethical principles to create a safe, empowering, and meaningful volunteering environment where volunteers are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect. Many small to medium-sized organisations may lack the resources to fully implement or achieve accreditation against the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement. This checklist can help support and guide organisations in adopting best practices complementary with the National Standards.

Read the checklist - https://volunteeringact.org.au/about/publications-and-reports/resources-for-volunteer-involving-organisations/

If you need support to make your volunteer programs more inclusive, accessible, and in line with the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement, contact us for a friendly discussion on 02 6251 4060 or [email protected]