West Welcome Wagon

23/06/2026

The moment Monica got the keys, we loaded the van.

Monica is 28. She arrived in Australia as a single mother, fleeing conflict in Papua New Guinea, with her two-year-old son and nowhere to live.

Finding accommodation was just the beginning.

The moment she had a place, our volunteers were on their way — with a bed, a couch, a fridge, a washing machine, and a bag of toys for her little boy.

When he saw the toys, the room lit up.

That image stays with you.

Monica and her son came to Australia with almost nothing, looking for safety and a fresh start. Your donation is part of what makes that start possible — not just a roof, but a home.

🧡 Donate at www.givenow.com.au/westwelcomewagon

22/06/2026

🙌 A huge thank you to the fantastic team from CEVA Logistics for recently volunteering with West Welcome Wagon!

From the moment they arrived, the CEVA team brought enthusiasm, curiosity and a genuine desire to make a difference. After learning more about our work supporting refugees and people seeking asylum across Melbourne's west, the team rolled up their sleeves and got straight to work in our warehouse.

Throughout the day, the team assisted with receiving and weighing donations, sorting and organising goods, recording incoming items, and picking essential items for individuals and families rebuilding their lives in our community. Their hard work and positive attitude made a real impact.

The team shared this reflection following their volunteer day:

"It was a humbling and rewarding experience to contribute to such a well-run and compassionate initiative. Following a tour of the warehouse, we gained firsthand insight into the scale and coordination behind West Welcome Wagon's operations. Every task, from sorting donations to picking essential items for families, played a small but meaningful role in ensuring support reaches those who need it most. We're grateful for the opportunity to be part of the vital work West Welcome Wagon does every day to uplift vulnerable communities." – CEVA Logistics

Thank you, CEVA Logistics, for your compassion, energy and commitment to giving back. We loved hosting your team and look forward to welcoming you back in the future. 💙

Corporate volunteer groups provide invaluable support to our organisation while offering teams a meaningful opportunity to connect and give back.

If your organisation would like to arrange a volunteer day with West Welcome Wagon, we'd love to hear from you! Please contact us at 📧 [email protected]

22/06/2026

The world feels heavy right now. Giving doesn't have to.

Cost of living. Conflict. Uncertainty. We're all carrying something at the moment.

And yet — every week in Melbourne's west, something generous is happening. Volunteers are turning up. Donations are arriving. Families are being welcomed.

If you've given to West Welcome Wagon this winter: thank you. It has made a real difference.

If you haven't yet: there's still time. Even a small, regular contribution helps us plan, purchase essentials, and keep the van running week after week.

🧡 Donate at www.givenow.com.au/westwelcomewagon

19/06/2026

Today is World Refugee Day.

Somewhere in Melbourne's west, a family who arrived with nothing is sleeping in a proper bed tonight. Their kids have warm clothes and toys to play with.

It doesn't fix everything. But it's a start.

To every family we've had the privilege of welcoming over the past 12+ years: this community is richer for having you in it.

🧡 Donate at www.givenow.com.au/westwelcomewagon

16/06/2026

🌏 Refugee Week 2026 💙
This Refugee Week, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of refugees and people seeking asylum who have made Australia their home.

Over the past 12 years, West Welcome Wagon has had the privilege of walking alongside families as they rebuild their lives and create a sense of home and belonging in our community.

Together, we have:
🏠 Established 2,890 homes
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Supported more than 15,000 adults and children
🎁 Distributed $7.25 million worth of donated essential items
♻️ Diverted over 1,000 tonnes from landfill
🙌 Powered by more than 600,000 volunteer hours

The families we support come from 42+ countries around the world, each bringing unique stories, cultures, skills, and dreams. While every journey is different, all share a common hope: the opportunity to rebuild, belong, and thrive.

This Refugee Week, we thank our volunteers, donors, partners, and supporters who help turn compassion into action every day. Together, we are creating welcoming communities where everyone has the chance to start again with dignity.

💙 Everyone deserves a place to call home.

14/06/2026

She squealed with excitement and held on tight the whole way to the car.

Shri is three years old. She came to our Melton Reach Out Day with her mum Ravathy, her dad, and her two brothers.

Ravathy and her family arrived in Australia from Malaysia in 2017. Life since then has been anything but simple — limited work rights, years of visa uncertainty, and now preparing for their second hearing at the Federal Court as they continue to seek permanent residency.

At the Reach Out Day, Shri discovered a handcrafted toy pram — made by one of West Welcome Wagon's generous supporters, complete with a handmade doll and blanket.

She was overjoyed.

She squealed with excitement, took Fay's hand, and walked to the car making absolutely sure her new "baby" was safe and sound the entire way.

These moments are why we do what we do. And they're only possible because of you.

🧡 Donate at www.givenow.com.au/westwelcomewagon

Helping people seeking asylum and refugees in Melbournes west feel truly at home with donated goods, dedicated volunteers and genuine community.

11/06/2026

Creating a Home for a Newly Arrived Rohingya Family

Steve (Storeperson, West Welcome Wagon) and our volunteers Kim and Paul, travelled to Melton to support a Rohingya family of six who had recently relocated from Sydney to Melbourne.

Upon arrival, the team found the family living in an entirely empty house. Having been unable to afford the cost of transporting their belongings, they had arrived with virtually nothing and were sleeping on the floor. Despite these circumstances, the family warmly welcomed us and expressed deep gratitude for the support.

The team was particularly concerned by the vulnerability of the family. All six family members appeared undernourished, and a highly traumatised 14-year-old boy with significant additional needs sat quietly in the corner of a bare bedroom. The visit was a powerful reminder that, for many refugee families, securing housing is only the first step in rebuilding their lives.

Thanks to the generosity of a recent donation of furniture from RACV, West Welcome Wagon was able to transform the family's empty house into the beginnings of a home. Across two trips and a full day, beds and mattresses, a washing machine, television, dining table and chairs, lounge suite, TV unit and other essential household items were delivered, assembled, and installed.

One of the most memorable moments came as the family immediately began assembling the beds, eager to replace nights spent sleeping on the floor with the comfort, safety and dignity of a proper place to sleep.

The impact extended far beyond the furniture itself. The delivery created a sense of welcome, connection and belonging at a time when the family was facing significant uncertainty and isolation.

This story demonstrates the profound impact of our work: not just providing household goods, but helping people seeking asylum and refugees feel welcomed, supported and connected to their new community from the moment they arrive.

It also illustrates an end-to-end donation, in this case from RACV, from receipt of goods > to safe storage in our warehouse > to delivery to a client’s home.

10/06/2026

💛 Community Reach Out Day – Laverton Community Hub 💛

In March, West Welcome Wagon welcomed 47 families (approximately 230 adults and children) from Myanmar, Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, Congo, Eritrea, Pakistan, Iraq and Peru.

Together, we distributed around 2.5 tonnes of essential household goods including clothing, shoes, toiletries, kitchenware and other much-needed items 🧥👟🧴🍽️

It was a joy to meet so many new families. As always, we ensured new clients attended earlier time slots so they could choose the items they needed most, supporting dignity, choice and fairness.

This event was made possible through the incredible efforts of our volunteers — thank you for your dedication, teamwork and care 🙏💛

We are also sincerely grateful to Hobsons Bay City Council for the Make it Happen grant that supported this Community Reach Out Day.

💛 Together we are building community, dignity and connection.

07/06/2026

Some of our volunteers you'll see. Many you won't.

Every week, a team of volunteers comes into the warehouse in Sunshine West. They sort what's arrived, test electrical items to make sure they're safe, and load the van for deliveries.

But that's just what you can see.

Behind the scenes, many more volunteers keep West Welcome Wagon running — from their homes, their phones, their kitchen tables. Managing client intake. Coordinating donations. Handling the bookkeeping. Staying in touch with the families we support, any hour of the day.

Together they’ve contributed over 40,000 hours.

They do it because they believe every family deserves a proper home.

To every one of them: thank you. 🧡

🧡 Donate at www.givenow.com.au/westwelcomewagon

03/06/2026

📣 Volunteer Mentors Wanted – Help Someone Take Their Next Step Towards Employment

We're looking for a small team of volunteers to join our new Next Steps: Navigating Employment Pathways program and support people seeking asylum and refugees as they build confidence and pathways to employment in Australia.

As a mentor, you'll share your professional experience, offer encouragement, and help participants navigate Australian workplace culture, job searching, networking, resumes, cover letters, and interviews.

✨ We're looking for volunteers who:

Have professional or workplace experience to share

Are passionate about inclusion and employment equity

Can commit up to 2 hours per week over 22 weeks

Hold a current Working With Children Check (WWCC)

This is a wonderful opportunity to make a meaningful difference in someone's employment journey while helping build a more welcoming and inclusive community.

Ongoing support will be provided, and mentoring will be a mix of remote and in-person engagement.

If this sounds like you, or if you'd like to learn more, please get in touch with us directly: [email protected] 

Thank you for helping create opportunities, confidence, and connection for our community. 💙💛