Celebrating Community Impact, National Volunteer Week 2026

Volunteer West was delighted to bring together around 50 community members and organisations from across Melbourne's west for our Volunteer Engager Network gathering as part of National Volunteer Week.

We were also honoured to welcome guest speaker Dilnaz Billimoria, recipient of the Promotion of Multiculturalism Award at the Victorian Senior of the Year Awards 2025, who has spent many years supporting and advocating for older people from culturally diverse communities.

Photo description: Dilnaz Billimoria taking a smiling group selfie with fellow attendees during the gathering, capturing a joyful and relaxed moment of connection and community.

Through her sharing, Dilnaz reminded us that volunteering is always evolving. While the heart of volunteering remains the same, the way people engage with it may look different today, particularly for younger generations balancing work, study, family and other commitments.

She reflected on how organisations may need to think differently about creating volunteer opportunities. Sometimes a one-off activity or flexible experience can become the beginning of a longer journey. One positive experience can create connection, build confidence and open the door to future involvement.

While events like these create opportunities to connect and learn from one another, they also create space for stories and reflections that stay with us long after the event ends.

Across the room, people shared stories, ideas and challenges from their own experiences. There was curiosity, honest discussion and plenty of laughter. It was a reminder that when people come together, we are not only sharing information, we are also learning from each other and strengthening our communities.

National Volunteer Week is also a time to celebrate the many people who quietly contribute their time, skills and care to others.

A special thank you to Gabriella, Sabrina and Valentina, whose support behind the scenes helped create a welcoming space and ensured everything ran smoothly on the day. Community events are often made possible by volunteers working quietly in the background, and we are grateful for everything they contributed.

Because at the centre of every community impact story are people who simply choose to show up and make a difference.

Photo description: Top left, moving clockwise: Faten, Volunteer West’s manager, welcoming guests as they arrived; participants sharing their volunteering highlights; the event setup and giveaways; and our volunteers Gabriela, Valentina and Sareeta celebrating with their certificates of appreciation alongside guest speaker Dilnaz Billimoria.