As communities across the North Coast prepare to celebrate National Volunteer Week, local organisations are shining a light on the many people quietly giving their time to support others, care for the environment and strengthen community connections.
Running from 18-24 May, this year’s National Volunteer Week theme, “Your Year to Volunteer”, recognises that volunteering is evolving alongside modern life, with Australians increasingly contributing in flexible and informal ways amid rising cost-of-living pressures and busy schedules.
From helping neighbours with groceries and coaching junior sport to supporting school fundraisers or contributing skills online, volunteering continues to play a vital role in community wellbeing.
Volunteering Australia Chief Executive Officer Mark Pearce said Australians were still eager to contribute, but the way people volunteer was changing.
“At a time when Australians are under increasing pressure, what stands out is not that volunteering is declining, but that it is adapting,” Mr Pearce said.
“We’re still seeing people show up for their communities, but they are doing it in different ways, in more flexible ways, and often in ways they don’t even recognise as volunteering.”
Mr Pearce said National Volunteer Week provided an opportunity to recognise all forms of contribution.
“Volunteering is not limited to formal roles or long-term commitments. It includes the everyday ways people support each other and strengthen their communities,” he said.
“Your Year to Volunteer is both a recognition of what already exists and an invitation. There is no single way to volunteer. What matters is that people can take part in ways that work for them.”
Across the North Coast, councils and volunteer organisations are marking the week with events celebrating local volunteers and encouraging more people to get involved.
In the Port Macquarie-Hastings region, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council is recognising the many volunteers who help care for the local community and environment.
Among those acknowledged are the volunteers from Friends of Mrs York’s Garden, whose decade of community-led care was recently recognised with a Highly Commended for Place Engagement award as part of the 2025 Place Leaders Awards.
Council is encouraging residents to explore local volunteering opportunities, share their stories and support volunteer recognition programs throughout National Volunteer Week.
Further north, Tweed Shire Council will host a special National Volunteer Week Nature Care Walk and Talk at Koala Beach on Thursday, 21 May.
The guided event at Burbi Reserve, Pottsville, will give volunteers and community members the opportunity to learn more about local environmental restoration efforts and the work being undertaken by dedicated Nature Care volunteers.
Participants will join volunteer support staff and experienced volunteers for a guided two-kilometre walk through the reserve, with morning tea provided following the event.
This year’s National Volunteer Week also coincides with the United Nations International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, highlighting the important role volunteers play in fostering connected, resilient and sustainable communities.
As communities across the North Coast celebrate those already giving their time, organisers hope the week will also inspire more people to recognise the value of the support they already provide – and perhaps discover new ways to get involved close to home.
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