Finding Community Through Volunteering
When Gabriela Santos arrived in Australia from Brazil, she was beginning a new chapter filled with both excitement and uncertainty.
Back home, Gabriela had built a successful career. She co-founded a marketing agency and spent seven years working in marketing, communications and branding. She was used to confidently walking into rooms filled with founders, CEOs and senior leaders.
But starting again in a new country brought different challenges.
Photo of Gabriela outside the Community Builders of Maribyrnong event, one of the many networking and community events she attended to build connections in Australia.
Looking for work in a second language and navigating unfamiliar systems sometimes affected her confidence. Like many newly arrived migrants, she found herself rebuilding professional networks and learning how to navigate a new environment from the beginning.
Just one month after arriving in Australia, Gabriela discovered Volunteer West through a co-design project exploring the experiences of migrants and newly arrived community members. She joined the sessions to share her perspective and experiences, not knowing where the opportunity would lead.
What she found was more than a community consultation.
"Volunteer West became the bridge to a great Brazilian friendship here in Melbourne," Gabriela shared.
Throughout the co-design sessions, she found a welcoming environment where people were encouraged to contribute, share ideas and learn from one another. The experience helped her feel heard, valued and connected during an important transition period in her life.
As her involvement grew, Gabriela continued attending workshops and community events. She later volunteered at Volunteer West's End of Year Celebration and National Volunteer Week event.
Reflecting on National Volunteer Week, Gabriela described the experience as especially inspiring.
"Community can give us purpose in the most unexpected moments."
Alongside these experiences, Gabriela also secured a volunteer role in marketing and communications with an Australian not-for-profit organisation. The opportunity allowed her to contribute her professional skills while gaining local experience and rebuilding her confidence in a new country.
More than six months later, Gabriela reflects on the connections, support and sense of belonging she has found through volunteering and community participation.
"Volunteer West gave me confidence, deep listening, and a sense that I could belong here, even in my very first months in a new country."
We were also very happy to hear Gabriela's recent update that she has secured her first paid role in her profession in Australia through a short-term contract with headspace, one of Australia's leading youth mental health not-for-profit organisations. We hope this will be another positive step in her professional journey as she continues building her career and connections in Australia.
Her story is a reminder that volunteering can be about much more than giving time. It can create friendships, open doors to new opportunities and help people feel connected to their community.
Sometimes, a single step, such as attending a co-design session or exploring a volunteer opportunity, can lead to unexpected friendships, new networks and a stronger sense of belonging.