International Volunteer Day is celebrated on Tuesday 5 December and is an opportunity to highlight the important role volunteers play in Brimbank across a range of areas.
They are the unsung heroes sacrificing their time and utilising their skills to make our city a better place.
This year’s theme is If Everyone Did, which centres on the power of collective action to make a difference in our community. It amplifies the importance of people-led solutions to our global challenges, such as poverty, inequality, hunger and disaster response.
One of Brimbank’s amazing volunteers is 74-year-old Josie Desira who dedicates her time making calls to people listed on our Community Register.
She has been doing this for 10 years and currently makes about 16 calls a week. This was particularly important to help people stay connected during COVID-19 lockdowns.
“There are a lot of people in Brimbank who feel lonely and depressed,” Josie says.
“It might be an older person in an aged care home who doesn’t have family to visit and they look forward to a call from someone they can talk to each week.”
Migrating from Malta when she was 18 years, Josie looked after her sick mother before she passed away, then a case worker recommended she volunteer her time with the Community Register.
“My clients feel like I am helping them but they are helping me too,” Josie said.
There are currently 232 volunteers registered with Brimbank Council. In addition, there are dozens who volunteer their time on advisory committees, historical societies, tree-planting activities and parks and garden volunteers.
