When university student Satya Vinod Tondapu moved from India to Australia in 2022, he didn't know anyone, but volunteering helped him connect with his community and build a network. or signup to continue reading An engineering student at the University of Wollongong (UOW), Mr Tondapu said he volunteers twice a week to give back to the community that gave so much to him. "I don't expect anything in return from the volunteering," he said.
"I need to give something back to the community, and service and respect to the community and the people and culture over here." Mr Tondapu credited his various roles on university councils and organisations to volunteering, as it prompted him to step out of his comfort zone and meet new people. National Student Volunteer Week runs from August 5-11, and Mr Tondapu said he will be advocating the cause and helping out on campus with various activities.
chief executive officer Jane Hedger said there are numerous benefits to volunteering, such as learning new skills and being a point of difference to future employers. "We know that employers in the future look at volunteering experience positively as those young people have real-life work experience," Ms Hedger said. "It's a great gateway to .
.. meaningful careers.
" Ms Hedger has spent 25 years in the volunteering sector, but began at an early age in the regional community she grew up in. Her first role was at pony club shovelling horse manure, as she was too young to participate in the show jumping. "Communities are kept afloat by volunteers," she said.
"There's no paid people to do things in those communities, so if you don't volunteer ...
then events like local shows and sporting days and all those sorts of things just don't happen." For many students and young people, starting that first volunteering role might seem daunting and overwhelming. National Student Volunteer Week aims to help students bridge those barriers.
"One of the big blockers is students just often don't know where the volunteering opportunities in their community are, Ms Hedger said. Other barriers for students could include being dependent on someone to drive them, lack of money for public transport, or they might not have the time to commit to volunteering. Despite this, Ms Hedger said this shouldn't deter people from giving it a go.
"There are so many opportunities for people to volunteer in really different ways and according to their needs and abilities," she said. "There are so many parts of the community that desperately need volunteering help, and it is a wonderful way for young people to make a massive difference to their community and to the global community." Mr Tondapu encouraged students thinking of volunteering to seek opportunities through their university and said it could enrich their experience on campus.
"'What can I do? How can I make my two years at the university, or four years at university, more beautiful?'" he said. "[For volunteering] you need new people, new different ethnicities, different cultures, different religions, different people, different mindsets." Mr Tondapu volunteers as a mentor and team leader with UOW Pulse, a non-profit organisation aimed to enhance student life.
Ms Hedger said she hopes makes young people aware of the opportunities available to them in their local communities. Journalist at The Examiner, Launceston, covering community, environmental stories and court stories. Contact me at annika.
[email protected] Journalist at The Examiner, Launceston, covering community, environmental stories and court stories.
Contact me at [email protected].
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