“For everything, my volunteer helps me” – Celebrating National Volunteer Week

It’s National Volunteer Week from 18-24 May. ARA is celebrating the many amazing contributions of our volunteers who give our work a reach and depth far beyond the scope of our limited funding.

Although we cannot celebrate in person, ARA CEO Deb Stringer has this personal message for all our volunteers:

This year’s National Volunteer Week theme is “Changing Communities, Changing Lives”, which is especially relevant to the work which ARA volunteers do every day.

“My volunteer showed me how to live in this country and how to understand the culture.”
Feedback from a client in the Social Support Program

Every contribution counts, whether it’s tutoring at Homework Club, helping someone practice their English, or assisting someone with their job search. The practical contributions of ARA volunteers have a profound impact on the lives of new arrivals, their families and communities, allowing them to make more meaningful connections across the wider community.

Most importantly, the friendship and support that volunteers give to new arrivals are some of the greatest gifts one person can give to another.

That’s the way it’s been at ARA ever since the first volunteers founded the organisation 45 years ago.

If you’re interested in volunteering, we’d love to hear from you. Check out the wide range of activities available here and get in touch with us: volunteer@ausref.net or phone 08 8354 2951.

Thank you to all our wonderful ARA volunteers, we are humbled by your support and wish you a very happy National Volunteer Week!

ARA volunteers are encouraged to participate in Volunteering SA&NT’s online campaign:  “Colour Your Community Red” to acknowledge, celebrate and thank all volunteers for the contributions they make to their communities.

If you support volunteering, light up or decorate your home or office building to ‘spread the red’ from 18-24 May. You can participate by tying something red out the front of your home. Tie a ribbon, scarf, or anything red around your letterbox, fence or tree – take a picture or a video, post it on social media to show how great it is to be or know a volunteer.