First Nations resources for volunteering

Come with me to volunteer at Morapoi Station. It's an 8h hour drive from Perth all the way past Kalgoorlie. Out here is where I grew up my parents have been running camps here for Aboriginal people for a long time, since before even I was born. The camps have motorbikes, bikes, horses, kayaks and biggest mob more. Volunteering here means I can help my parents while I work on my leadership teamwork and cultural skills. I can give back to my home and make sure these kids and families have a deadly time. Volunteering is fun rewarding and a way to make a difference. Ready to join in? Search volunteering.gov.au.

Allira Potter
Hi you mob, my name is Allira and I'm here to talk to you about the benefits of volunteering and how it can have a positive impact on your mental health and your overall wellbeing. If you aren't familiar with volunteering it is an act by a group or an individual where they offer their free time often in a community run space. Which leads me into talking about the three wellness and mental health benefits of volunteering and why I think you should give it a crack. Not only will you be helping your community, but you'll be giving yourself this feeling of a purpose and achievement and also giving you this sense of happiness. Number 2, volunteering reduces stress and eases your mind because you become focused on the task that you're currently doing so you get to come in do your thing and just switch off from the outside world. Number 3, volunteering is a huge mood booster which will give you such a positive outlook on live which will lead to endless possibilities when it comes to volunteering or also a potential career choice. So, this is your reminder to get out there and volunteer because the positive benefits are endless.

Kyah Simon
Hey guys I'm down here at the Most Important Meal headquarters. It's an initiative that I volunteer for where we provide meals for kids all across New South Wales. Let me show you how volunteering has helped shape me throughout my career and how it could do the same for you. When I first started volunteering, I didn't realise how many transferable skills there were and it's not just about what I do on the field but giving back to the community too. It's taught me the value of teamwork leadership and resilience, qualities that I bring with me every time I step onto the field, important values that can help you in all walks of life no matter the career path you choose. Volunteering has shown me the true power of community, you gain perspective, new connections, a sense of fulfillment and invaluable experiences that has contributed to my successes on and off the pitch. Volunteering can be the first step to building the skills that you need for your future career. Are you ready to get started? Search volunteer opportunities at volunteering.gov.au.

Blackfit Fitness Interview – Josh and Winda
Josh: Yaama everyone. How you going? My name is Josh and I am a Gomeroi Wailwan and Yuwalaraay man from Western NSW. I currently run a company called Blackfit Fitness that do a large range of our work with youth, youth work across the state in communities all over.

And this video here today is just to give you a little bit of insight around volunteering, youth work and just touch on some points on how important and essential it is. So, I'm going to interview one of my workers who started off as a volunteer with Blackfit Fitness and then worked his way into full-time employment. So if you enjoy, I hope you can take something away from this because volunteering is a key aspect before you take the next step within your job, but also too it does come with a lot of other positive attachments that we’ll dive into in this interview, so come and join us.

Josh: We're here with Winda who currently is a full-time employee at Blackfit Fitness, started off as a volunteer in youth work with Blackfit. So before we begin and we start firing away with the questions, Winda, do you want to just introduce yourself, tell us where you're from, who's your mob?

Winda: Certainly, well hello everyone, my name is Winda. I'm originally from Armidale. I'm a Gumbayngirr Bundjalung Biripi and Wiradjuri man.

Josh: Nice, awesome. OK, so let's start off bruz. You're full-time working with Blackfit now, but you volunteered with Blackfit for a couple of weeks before that, though you've done some volunteering previously. Do you want to start at that previous volunteering and roll into your experience with Blackfit as a volunteer, and where you're at now?

Winda: So, when I first started volunteering, I was about 18, 19 and I started volunteering at a preschool in Adamstown. I was working with young kids then where I really got to grow my passion of working with the kids, and then basically when I got the opportunity to start volunteering a Blackfit, it really got that spark in me to go out there and work with kids again.

Josh: For mob out there that are thinking about doing some volunteering, what are some positive things about starting off as a volunteer?

Winda: So, positive thing that I took out from volunteering would possibly be confidence.

I got to learn so many new skills within that period of volunteering that really gave me the confidence to go in and do my job to the best of my ability when I actually got the role.

Josh: So, it's kind of like prior experience or sort of learning on the go or in the same space, but not being on the front line.

Winda: Absolutely. The confidence that I grew within that period of volunteering, amazing.

Josh: Yeah, wonderful, cool. That is a cool aspect too, because that's something that I've sort of taken away from volunteering as well. Being able to learn with different people or in different spaces, seeing what works, what doesn't work. And also too, a lot of people when you are volunteering, use different strategies or engagement techniques and all that sort of stuff too. So you sort of get a look at that as well as a volunteer and you can upskill yourself before diving into deep waters without not knowing anything, I guess especially within youth work because it can be very diverse and dynamic. So volunteering was a good stepping stone beforehand.

Winda: Yep.

Josh: Yeah, nice, awesome work. OK, next question. Why do you think it's important for mob to jump into or experience volunteering before going straight into some youth work?

Winda: I believe it's good because I said the confidence that it did give me, the skills that I really did develop while volunteering really, really gave me the confidence to go out there and do it. So I think it's good for mob to get out there and volunteer because I believe great opportunities might come from it and the skills that you develop in that period of time could really be beneficial for something later on.

Josh: Yeah, very good. Yeah. So, people might look at it like, oh, it's not paid work or anything like that, but it could lead on to something like that in the process of upskilling and learning and taking in as much as you can about that industry, I guess as well.

Winda: Absolutely.

Josh: Awesome. If someone out there watching is going to think about getting into volunteering or interested in volunteering, what's an advice you could give as a previous volunteer, but now full-time work off that volunteer role?

Winda: First thing that comes of mind is, be receptive. The people that I got to learn off, yourself, other people that I've met along the way have been absolutely amazing for me. They've really helped me develop the skills that I've taken into my role, and I've got to learn many different skills, many different ways on how people do things so I can fit that into how I do things best suitable for me.

Josh: Yeah, beautiful. OK. It is a great stepping stone. It is a good pathway for people that are wanting to get into youth work as you learn on the go and possibly to pick up some work from that volunteer role as well.

Winda: Absolutely.

Josh: So if you might be interested in volunteering, follow the links at the end of this video I will list a bunch of links organisations where you can jump on and find out some more and possibly even become a volunteer and upskill yourself and learn a little bit more about the space because it is a quite diverse but also too very fun and enjoyable space as well. So, check out the links and thanks very much Winda for jumping on sharing your experience from volunteer into full-time employment. Thank you.

Josh: Thanks for joining us for that very quick but very insightful interview there with Winda.

Some great knowledge there, some great insight around volunteering. And if you are looking for more volunteering opportunities, please visit volunteering.gov.au. Thank you.

Sam Stubbs
Come with me to volunteer at Morapoi Station. It's an 8h hour drive from Perth all the way past Kalgoorlie. Out here is where I grew up my parents have been running camps here for Aboriginal people for a long time, since before even I was born. The camps have motorbikes, bikes, horses, kayaks and biggest mob more. Volunteering here means I can help my parents while I work on my leadership teamwork and cultural skills. I can give back to my home and make sure these kids and families have a deadly time. Volunteering is fun rewarding and a way to make a difference. Ready to join in? Search volunteering.gov.au.

My name is Abbey Duncan, I'm from the Yuin Nation, New South Wales and I've been living in the Northern Territory for about 8 years now and I'm 18 years old.

(Question: What is your current volunteering role?)

In the present moment I'm not currently involved in any volunteering projects but for the past few years I've been invited to a few NAIDOC celebrations at the local primary schools doing culture and Australian history talks, and also art workshops.

I was part of the NAIDOC celebration this year and did an art workshop where each student painted a rock and the rocks were used to create a mule in their school garden.

(Question: Describe your volunteering experience in 3 words)

If I could describe my volunteer experience in three words I would say healing, connection and engaging.

(Question: What’s your deadliest moment while volunteering?)

The deadliest moment while volunteering would probably be the first time I was involved in the NAIDOC talk and it was just seeing the interest and excitement in the kids’ faces and being able to give them something that I know I needed when I was younger. It was incredible seeing how engaged the students were and how much they obtained in the short amount of time.

(Question: Which famous person would you love to take to your volunteering)

And if I could bring any famous person volunteering, I would bring Thelma Plum. I love her music, and I think she's a beautiful person. Thank you.

(Question: What is your current volunteering role?)

As of right now, my current volunteering role is being the MC at the Tamworth Cultural Showcase for 2025. I have helped a lot with the Indigenous dance groups. Not only just in Tam. When I was in high school, I used to help out a lot, you know, teaching the younger kids how to dance, showing them to get out there, have fun. It can be challenging at times. It can also be like, fun, you know, like it’s always good to give back to the community. Speaking, and teaching people a few things they don’t know.

(Question: Describe your volunteering experience in 3 words)

But, overall, it’s rewarding. ‘It’s worth it’, they’re my 3 words.

(Question: What’s your deadliest moment while volunteering?)

My deadliest moments, well it would be a toss up between the MCing, like a few of the gigs I’ve MC’d in the past, but also probably, you know just teaching the young kids a thing or two about cultural dancing. I suppose my most deadliest experience would have to come from when I MCd the NAIDOC Debutante Ball. It was my first big gig out of school. At first, like for the first couple of minutes you know, that was the biggest crowd I ever spoke in front of, but once I took on board what everyone tells me, you know, just be myself and then everything will work out, once I started dipping into my humorous side, yea, it just got good from that point on and I would like to say ‘do it’ you know. You only get a few chances to do these sorts of things in your life and you never know where volunteering can lead you. So, I’d say ‘go for it’.

(Question: Which famous person would you love to take to your volunteering)

Most famous person I would bring to a volunteering would have to be Tina Turner, cause you know, she’s simply the best. She’s got a very inspiring story, so id have to go with Tina.

Hello, my name is Neville Williams Boney. I'm a Wiradjuri Wailwan Ngunnawal Ngambry man from Wagga Wagga. I am 33 years of age.

(Question: What is your current volunteering role?)

My current volunteering role that I have is a choreographer, as a performer and as a teacher as well. I'm going around and teach dance mostly a lot as my volunteering roles.

(Question: What’s your deadliest moment while volunteering?)

My deadliest moment while volunteering would have to be that I get to see the joy of dancing through other people eyes, and not only does it kind of reinforces the idea that I love dancing, but that gift of sharing the dance and sharing story is probably one of the most big [things], whether they're 80 years old to 20 to teenager to preschool age. So, I think doing all of that is what makes it all worthwhile.

(Question: Which famous person would you love to take to your volunteering)

I would love to have someone who was a pioneer for Aboriginal contemporary dance from the 70s, so someone who was big an AIDT like Raymond D Blanco, Silvia Blanco, Dujon Niue or Sidney Saltner, the big names that we have here in the Aboriginal Canterbury Dance base, who have worked with Bangarra, who have worked with AIDT, who have now worked everywhere all over, with so many kids. It would be a really cool full moment because they've taught me and it'll be really cool to have them into the room just to see where their legacy lies.

But I guess if I had to choose a famous person, maybe Miranda Tapsell one, because I think the young people know who she is and I think she also know the importance of culture. She can speak from that end and maybe help the kids, you know, teach them how to become confident because she's one confident woman. And I think I would be starstruck if I saw her. Yeah. So I guess those will be my two people who I'd choose to come into the classroom.

(Question: What is your current volunteering role?)

My name is Stassi Austin, I'm 22 and I currently volunteer for a few organisations including the Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, AYAC, which is the peak body for young people in Australia, the Cowra Region Country University Centre which aims to provide rural people with easier access to tertiary education, and a number of other organisations across NSW and within the Cowra community where I live.

(Question: Describe your volunteering experience in 3 words)

If I could describe my volunteer experience in three words, they would be intersectional, representational and ambitious.

(Question: What’s your deadliest moment while volunteering?)

I've seen so many deadly moments occur whilst volunteering because I get to see the work that young people are doing that helps to shape the country we live in, but if I had to pick one moment, I would say that securing $1.53 million from the Federal Government in 2022 to ensure the ongoing work of AYAC was pretty significant, and when we were able to present the AYAC statement of support for The Voice to Parliament to the then Minister of Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, Minister for Youth Dr. Anne Aly and Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy.

(Question: Which famous person would you love to take to your volunteering)

I wish I could make everyone more aware of the work we do at AYAC, particularly all young people in Australia, but if I had to invite a famous person to a round table or youth consultation, that person would be Jacinda Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, to see the work that we do here in Australia.