Two volunteers stand in front of a creek. The woman on the left wears a cap and yellow raincoat. A man on the right wears a dark coloured hoodie and sunglasses and hold a plastic bucket in his left hand.

Volunteering at Brimbank

It’s National Volunteer Week – a great time to acknowledge the wonderful and valuable contribution made by volunteers everywhere, including here in Brimbank.

Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community. It’s also an excellent way to learn new skills, keep active and meet new people.

Brimbank Council is so thankful for its dedicated volunteers who help many vital programs running to benefit the community.

Brimbank Community Register

The Brimbank Community Register promotes confident and secure living, amongst our elderly and residents with disability.

The Register is run by a group of dedicated volunteers who phone members on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis to have a chat, while also helping resident feel safe and connected to the community.

The Brimbank Community Register is always looking for new volunteers from Brimbank. Call 9249 4789 or email info@brimbank.vic.gov.au to find out how to volunteer.

Helping the local environment

Did you know Council’s Environment Team host an annual calendar of events where community members can get involved and help the local environment?

Alongside numerous opportunity to get involved with informative activities in-person and online, there are plenty of opportunities to get hands-on alongside Council staff and local environment groups at conservation reserves in Brimbank.

Volunteers can come along to help plant trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers which help to restore vegetation to its once natural and indigenous state, while providing habitat for native wildlife to thrive and enjoy.

There are also opportunities to help to run the events by helping with registration, barbecues, set up and clean up – or you can do both!

Citizen science and community engagement activities also feature throughout the year with lots of family-friendly activities available.

Volunteer work and activities are available for people of all-abilities and provide an opportunity to meet other like-minded community members, all while helping our environment and learning from others.

Main events throughout the year include:

  • Clean Up Australia Day
  • World Environment Day and
  • National Tree Day.

These days bring together hundreds of community members who enjoy a day out with free activities, often ending with a barbecue supplied by Council.

Four volunteers kneel onthe ground weeding and planting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Environment Team is always looking for volunteers to help at our many events, especially throughout winter and spring. Events are listed on the our website where you can register.

Our website also has information about other ways to get involved, including a list of local Friends Groups.

Mentoring young people to get their P-plates

15 L2P volunteer Mentors stand in a group smiling at the camera.

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) L2P Program matches volunteer mentors from the community with learner drivers who don’t have the support around them to gain their 120 hours of driving practice.

Using cars provided by Council, mentors take the learners out for regular (usually weekly) driving sessions to help them safely experience all types of driving and conditions to help prepare them to be safe drivers.

Mentors come from all types of backgrounds and are provided the training and support they need to confidently do the role.

Our volunteers tell us they find a great sense of satisfaction giving back to the community in this way, helping the young people be able to support their families and pursue employment and study pathways.

Brimbank Street Libraries

In December 2021 Street Libraries were installed at four locations across Brimbank.

Street Libraries aim to build a love of reading and increase in literacy across all ages by encouraging people to ‘take a book, leave a book’.

Our Street Libraries are supported by volunteers who check the libraries regularly and may add preloved books (supplied by Brimbank Libraries), help community members if they have any questions, and identify if there is any damage or other issues that need to be followed up.

Volunteer support of our Street Libraries is invaluable

Volunteering at Brimbank Neighbourhood Houses

There are about 27 active volunteers at Brimbank’s Neighbourhood Houses.

Volunteers help with everything from office administration, to helping with programs and classes, community gardening and at the Men’s Shed.

West Sunshine Community Centre volunteer, Stephen Istanto said he started volunteering because he wanted to give back to the community and pass on his IT skills.

This is a sentiment echoed by all of our Neighbourhood House volunteers who also enjoy the opportunity volunteering offers to meet new people and connecting with others.

Some benefits to volunteering at Neighbourhood Houses includes being part of a tight-knit team, making meaningful and often long-lasting connections with others in your local community, working with the community, and having a role in making change and/or improving community outcomes.

Sydenham Neighbourhood House volunteer poses for the camera in front of a coffee machine

Young @ Heart

 Young @ Heart is a youth-led volunteer program designed to help seniors in developing skills to navigate social media platforms and to reduce social isolation of seniors living in Brimbank.

Youth volunteers are provided the opportunity to create networks in their local community, while developing transferable skills and building pathways into employment and meaningful engagement.

Volunteers develop skills in program planning and facilitation, critical thinking, problem solving, communication, enterprise, leadership and team work.

“I feel like being a part of the Young @ Heart program has given me a chance to really connect with the community. Talking with seniors has given me a different prospective in my life. I am feeling needed, respected and appreciated for my skills I have to offer. I am enjoying being a part of this program, as it is improving my mental health” – Athena

Contact Sydenham Neighbourhood House on 9249 4224 for more information or to become a youth volunteer.

 

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Copyright © Brimbank City Council

Brimbank City Council acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land, the Wurundjeri People, and pays our respects to Elders past and present.