Give A Little, Change A Lot - It's National Volunteer Week

Each year during National Volunteer Week (NVW) we celebrate the contribution of the six million people who volunteer across Australia. This year the theme is Changing Communities. Changing Lives, to recognise the millions of volunteers who make a big impact in their communities by giving a little of their time.

EnergyAustralia’s Social Investment Lead Roberta Steuart says the theme reflects how volunteering is approached within the company.

“This week is the epitome of our approach to volunteering and the values we hold at EnergyAustralia. Our volunteering program allows our employees to make a real difference in the communities in which they live and work. “ she says.

Following the terrible bushfires in Victoria, EnergyAustralia volunteers volunteered at Foodbank Victoria and St Kilda Mums to ensure they were able to support the people that needed it at this time. Unfortunately due to Covid 19, our volunteering support has been reduced for the safety of employees but we are well placed to begin an exciting new phase of virtual volunteering soon.

EnergyAustralia employees from all of our Australian offices and sites will be volunteering at nine different charities or primary schools.

Throughout 2019 we provided over 900 opportunities for employees to give their time and we are excited to get back out and continue to help the community once it is safe to do so.

Partner charities include Sacred Heart Mission, Very Special Kids, Australian Business Community Network, St Kilda Mums, Geelong Mums, Very Special Kids and Foodbank. EnergyAustralia is also part of breakfast club at two primary schools in Geelong and Yallourn where volunteers make breakfast for those kids who have come to school without.

Roberta says partners are chosen based on EnergyAustralia’s areas of focus: education (acquiring knowledge) and social inclusion (feeling valued and included).

“All of them are designed for our employees to see that there are others in our community that need our support,” says Roberta.

The best part of volunteering is that everyone benefits. “Staff love it. After every session we do, regardless of charity, the reports are that they love the impact they can have, in such a simple way,” says Roberta.