Highlights

What a fantastic day we had on Friday, May 24th, at the 2024 Volunteers Conference! Our community of dedicated volunteers gathered to celebrate, connect, and learn together. The day kicked off beautifully with a gentle meditation session led by the delightful 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗶 𝗗𝗼𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘆 from the Tarrington Wellbeing Centre, setting a calm and mindful tone for our conference. Thank you, Debi, for sharing your expertise and guiding us through such a peaceful start.

Our program included inspiring presentations and activities that ignited our passion for volunteering:

𝗔𝗹𝘆𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗰𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀, from Alyshia McInnes Art, a talented art therapist, shared insights into the benefits of art for mental health and guided us in a collaborative art project, symbolizing the strength and interconnectedness of our community.

𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗰𝗵𝗺𝗮𝗻, Director of Wellbeing at Monivae College, offered valuable perspectives on supporting youth mental health.

𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗪𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗼𝗻, Founder, The Right Brain Workout, author and creativity evangelist, delivered a dynamic keynote address, inspiring us to unlock our creative potential.

We also had the pleasure of welcoming 𝗥𝗮𝗷 𝗚𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗺, a visiting volunteer from the Rotary Club of Kathmandu in Nepal, who is here to learn about Australian community service and nonprofit management.

The day was filled with engaging discussions, networking opportunities, and hands-on activities, culminating in the creation of a beautiful collaborative art piece that symbolises the foundational support our volunteers provide to the organisation. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this meaningful project.

A heartfelt thanks to our sponsors, The Handbury Foundation, Ace Radio, and the Southern Grampians Shire Council Community Partnerships Grant.

We concluded the day with a sense of pride and connection, ready to continue our journey of empowering and inspiring our community through volunteering. Thank you to all volunteers - may you all continue to make an incredible impact together!