Pine Rivers Special School student, Lauren has completed the CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students as Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI).

Brisbane Bayside State College student, Raelene has completed the CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students as Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI).

During National Volunteer Week, 21-27 May, the 2018 Queensland Volunteering Awards were held to honour the inspiring endeavours of hundreds of volunteers, volunteer managers, volunteer-involving organisations and businesses that invest in employee volunteering programs, to bring about positive change in our community.

Parklands Christian College year 11 student, Joshua has completed the CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students as Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI).

Bianca (or better known to her friends as Cozi) is a Year 12 student from Everton Park State School who has completed the CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students as Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). Only 20 hours was required to complete the course; however Cozi volunteered over 100 hours of her time!

Mt Maria College Year 12 student Blake is completing a CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students as Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). Blake volunteers in the Religious Education Department at the school where he undertakes a variety of tasks that include designing labels for the 'care to cook' project, making flyers and bagging food and delivery to the local parish.

Nathanial is a Year 10 student from Parklands Christian College who is enrolled in the CHC24015 Certificate II in Active Volunteering through our Students As Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). Nathanial loves sport and has a passion for giving back to his sporting community. He has dedicated time to volunteering at the Jimboomba Little Athletics Centre where he undertakes a variety of tasks including coaching younger athletes.

During National Volunteer Week, 8-14 May, the 2017 Queensland Volunteering Awards were held to acknowledge the efforts of thousands of volunteers, volunteer managers, and volunteer-involving organisations in bringing about positive change within their communities. The awards presentation and recognition ceremony was held on Friday 12 May in the Brisbane Room of Brisbane City Hall.

Cheyenne is a Year 12 student from Ipswich State High School who is completing a CHC34015 Certificate III in Active volunteering through our Students As Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). Cheyenne loves to help others and brighten up their day. She has dedicated time to volunteering at The Animal Welfare League, Cityhope Care and Tarampa Lodge. One of her most memorable experiences has been playing with the kittens at The Animal Welfare League.

Mt Maria College Petrie Year 12 student Linzi is completing a CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students As Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). Linzi is a student that approaches volunteering with vigour, excitement and joy.  She has been volunteering her time at Riding for the Disabled Association Queensland (RDAQ) where she assists children with disabilities interact with horses and leads the horses around.

Murrumba State Secondary College Year 11 student Amba is completing a CHC34015 Certificate III in Active volunteering through our Students As Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). Amba is enjoying working towards the certificate and has completely embraced volunteering, both as a subject and as a philosophy. She has been volunteering at neighbouring Undurba Primary School helping year 5 students with their reading. She enjoys reading to them when they are behaving, otherwise it can provide her with a bit of a challenge.

The Annual Mayoral Volunteer Thank-you function was held recently during National Volunteer Week to thank and acknowledge the volunteers of Toowoomba Regional Council for the valuable contributions they make to the region. Approximately 400 volunteers attended this year’s event held at the Jondaryan Woolshed. 

Forest Lake State High School student Zach is studying a CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students As Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). This term Zach has helped out at many local community events, including: Crimestoppers Centenary; Bunnings BBQ at Oxley; and, Brisbane City Council's Movies in the Park fundraiser.

Centenary High School Year 12 student Ben is completing a CHC34015 Certificate III in Active volunteering through our Students As Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI). Ben has clocked up hundreds of volunteering hours helping out a variety of causes at every opportunity including on holidays, weekends, and when he has a spare lesson at school.

The inaugural Queensland Volunteering Awards acknowledged the extraordinary and valuable work done every day by thousands of volunteers and organisations across the state. Award nominees, finalists and recipients were honoured at the Awards Presentation and Recognition Ceremony at Brisbane Room, Brisbane City Hall on Friday 13 May during National Volunteer Week 2016.

For six months, Bill has been volunteering as a handyman at his local community centre. Although he started volunteering due to an early retirement, contributing to the broader community has always been an important part of his life. Bill’s background as a tradie meant that finding a volunteer role that utilised his skills was relatively easy. Although, Bill is the first to admit that his interest in people and diversity within the community are the main attractions. 

Elahe wanted to develop her technical skills and gain some local work experience. She started volunteering as a project officer/junior business analyst seven months ago. Elahe then moved into using her skills at the IT help desk for a community organisation. Elahe started her volunteer work two days a week, but soon increased this. She says her role has been challenging and she has learned something new every day. Volunteering has also helped her to improve her English.

A sense of having something meaningful to do is one of the main reasons why local resident, Pauline, volunteers at the Loganlea Community Centre. Pauline serves in many roles and is an integral part of the Logan community. "I was looking for something to do to use my skills and qualifications to help others and it has helped me by giving me something worthwhile to do."

A part of our Students As Active Volunteers Initiative, year 10 students from Silkwood High School travelled to Norfolk Island to volunteer over a period of 7 days. Volunteering Queensland acknowledges the students efforts, as they work towards their CHC34015 Certificate III in Active volunteering. All volunteering hours will go towards their qualifications and of course beautifying glorious Norfolk Island.

During the September school holidays, staff and students from Maroochydore State High School travelled to Cambodia as part of the Students as Active Volunteers Initiative. Continuing their ongoing commitment to humanitarian work, the group of fifteen students and three teachers taught English at the Save the Cambodian Children for Development Orphanage.