Celebrating Kushal’s Next Chapter

The Volunteer West team just recently shared a special farewell lunch for our valued volunteer, Kushal, as he prepared to move into paid employment and begin a new chapter.

Kushal joined Volunteer West while looking to build local experience and develop his skills after arriving in Australia. Holding a degree in Business and Data Analysis, he faced a challenge familiar to many newcomers, finding employment without prior Australian work experience.

Kushal (left) and Phuong (right) at the Volunteer Expo hosted by Volunteer West in May 2024, celebrating community connection and volunteering opportunities across Melbourne’s west.

To gain experience and become more connected within the community, Kushal began volunteering with our Volunteer Support Services team every Monday for five months. During this time, he supported enquiries, assisted with volunteer-related tasks and became a familiar and friendly presence within the office.

When additional support was needed for social media activities, Kushal also volunteered extra time on Wednesdays, even though marketing was a completely new area for him. His willingness to learn, adapt and contribute wherever needed made a meaningful impact on the team.

Throughout his time at Volunteer West, Kushal consistently showed reliability, kindness and a positive attitude. Beyond the work itself, our team also appreciated learning more about his culture, background and experiences.

We are delighted that Kushal has now secured paid employment and we wish him all the best for this next stage of his journey.

His story is a reminder that volunteering can provide more than practical experience. It can also help people build confidence, develop new skills, expand networks and feel more connected within the community.

For many people, especially those navigating career change, migration or rebuilding confidence, volunteering can become an important step toward new opportunities and personal growth.