Celebrating National Volunteer Week 2026

Following this year’s National Volunteer Week 18-24 May, we extend our heartfelt thank you to all of our volunteers here at Co.As.It. Community Services.

The theme this year is ‘Your Year to Volunteer’ and it invites everyone to get involved in ways that work for them, as there is no one way to volunteer.

Volunteering can look different for everyone, and we encourage more people to consider volunteering for the following reasons.

Volunteers create a kinder world

To every person who gives their time, energy and care to support others, we thank you for making a difference that is infinitely important in the lives of our clients that your kindness touches.
Our dedicated volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at Co.As.It. and we are so grateful for each and every one of you.

From our community champions who serve through our community social activities to those compassionate individuals who voluntarily support isolated members in our community and in residential care facilities through our Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) we salute you!

Volunteers change lives

As we celebrated National Volunteer Week, many of us started to reflect and ask: How can I create a more caring community? For some volunteering is the answer.

Through our amazing Co.As.It. volunteers we are reminded that volunteering is one of the most powerful ways to build a community where everyone belongs.

For all of our volunteers, our focus is less about the task and more about making a real difference through kindness, compassion and commitment to strengthening connections in our community.
Every day, amazing volunteers in our organisation sacrifice their own personal time to build friendships with people in our community.

The generosity of our volunteers helps to create connection, foster inclusion and bring a sense of purpose and belonging to all involved.

Volunteers create community

Our enthusiastic cohort of volunteers is a reminder that volunteering means something different for everyone.

For some, it’s a few hours every fortnight visiting an older person, and for others it’s an ongoing commitment to assist with food service, tombola and sing-alongs at our Social Activity Groups or supporting our weekly CISS activities that promote community connections.

In reaching out to support our clients and programs, volunteering delivers many benefits for everyone involved.

Emerging friendships are strengthened across our programs, when communication, empathy and active listening are key to meaningful connections.

Whatever it looks like, every voluntary contribution is valued and every act of kindness matters in building our Co.As.It. community where everyone feels welcome and valued.

Volunteering bridges generations

For many, their introduction to volunteering with us is through our ACVVS program.

At Co.As.It. Community Services, this program has been pivotal to creating a more inclusive community for older people, especially those from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Every one of our ACVVS volunteers is carefully matched with clients living at home or in residential care, who may be at risk of loneliness.

After all, sometimes we all need a friend who shares our interests.

For one client, Paul, a previous aircraft engineer, visits from our volunteers have been life-changing.
Paul regularly welcomes an ACVVS volunteer and airline pilot.

Despite Daniel’s full schedule of flying high in the skies, he regularly makes time to visit Paul when he is finally on the ground.

The wonderful energy between Daniel and Paul they build gigantic plastic model planes together is a delight.

Daniel’s visits to Paul, not only keeps Paul’s memories of aviation alive but they also strengthen his social connections and cognitive abilities.

Daniel is remarkably patient as he watches Paul add pieces to the model plane, taking time to assemble the wings and explain the assembly instructions while chatting about their life experiences.

Paul’s spouse, Riza, attests to the immense enjoyment Paul derives from Daniel’s visits, often recounting how he emerges invigorated.

Your Year to Volunteer

During National Volunteer Week 2026 – Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering – and all year round, we say a heartfelt thank you! Undoubtedly, our volunteers are creating a kinder world for all of us to live in.

We are so proud of all of our incredible volunteers at Co.As.It. and thank and acknowledge you for helping us to build a more caring and inclusive community.