Australia nationally recognises Harmony Day on Wednesday 21 March 2018 to celebrate our cultural diversity and it also coincides with the United Nations ‘International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’.

World Health Day is an opportunity to call upon world leaders to live up to the pledges they made upon agreeing to the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 and commit to positive steps to promote and advance #HealthForAll. The theme for this year’s World Heath Day theme is, 'Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere'.

Parklands Christian College year 11 student, Joshua has completed the CHC24015 Certificate II in Active volunteering through our Students as Active Volunteers Initiative (SAAVI).

The Queensland Police Service South Brisbane District Volunteers in Policing (VIPs) Program has been nominated for the Queensland Volunteering Awards for its positive impact on the community.

Sailability Brisbane has been nominated for the Queensland Volunteering Awards for its positive impact on the community. The organisation provides sailing for people with all types and levels of disability in order to bring enjoyment, encourage development and provide a broader life experience.

After 50 years of community involvement, an outstanding volunteer has been nominated for the Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award for his vital work. Throughout his life, John Horton, 75, has volunteered consistently in various capacities and for the last five years has visited isolated older men, weekly, as part of ‘Circle of Men’ at the Wellington Park Aged Care facility.

Starting at just 10 years old, an inspiring young volunteer has been nominated for the Youth Volunteering Award for his work with the World's Biggest Garage Sale. Tobey Thompson, 13, has helped during the organisation and planning of the big event in 2015 and 2017.

After overseeing and ensuring the safety of hundreds of pilots, aircrew, ground support crew, and fire crews, an extraordinary volunteer has been nominated for the Volunteer of the Year Award. Since 2007, Mark Doble, 47, has made a lasting impact on aviation capability across the state through his involvement in the development and delivery of a number of specialist air operations training packages as well as his commitment to support air operations through emergencies.

As you go to sleep tonight and every night in a safe secure home, think of the thousands of young people experiencing homelessness who are out on the street alone, sleeping in a park or couch surfing in someone’s living room.

Wish to attend the National Volunteering Conference 2018, but are experiencing financial pressures or geographical difficulties? 

After looking after generations of members and nippers, an outstanding volunteer has been nominated for the Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award for her vital work at her local surf club. Since 1953, Lorraine Buhk, 80, has been volunteering with Alexandra Headland Surf Life Saving Club and helping at a local, state, national and international level.

‘Pay It Forward’ and what does it mean – an expression for describing the beneficiary of a good deed repaying it to others instead of to the original benefactor.

In recognition of International Volunteer Day the 2018 Queensland Volunteering Awards are now open! The awards will acknowledge the efforts of hundreds of volunteers, volunteer managers, volunteer-involving organisations and businesses in bringing about positive change within their communities.

'Leave no woman behind' International Women’s Day is globally recognised to celebrate the amazing acts of courage and determination by ordinary women in their country and communities. The 2018 theme is ‘Leave no woman behind’acknowledges the essential role women play in humanitarian and natural disaster response.

For many Christmas is a joyous and festive time to be spent with family and friends. Time spent having a BBQ, going to the beach or a game of backyard cricket. It’s a time to be grateful for the people in our lives and the country we live in.

Volunteering Australia has partnered with the Institute of Project Management (IPM) to launch an extensive report on the contribution of Volunteering Support Services (VSS) in Australia.

Ashley Fell was the guest keynote speaker at the Volunteering Queensland Annual General Meeting, held on Wednesday 11 October 2017. Ashley is a social researcher, TEDx speaker and as Head of Communications at the internationally recognised McCrindle, she understands the need for organisations to communicate with the emerging generations to effectively engage and motivate them. Her expertise is in how to communicate across generational barriers.

On Wednesday 11 October, Volunteering Queensland held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in which we elected our new Board members for 2018.

Saturday 25 November 2017 has been designated as “Orange Day” by the UN to raise awareness against violence towards women and girls. The overarching theme of ‘Orange Day’ is “Leave No One Behind: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls”. Orange being a vibrant and optimistic colour it represents a future free of violence.

Poor mental health in the workplace is currently costing Australian businesses $11 billion a year as revealed by researchers at the University of Tasmania. With approximately 45% of Australians experiencing some sort of mental health issue in their lifetime, it is likely that at some point, every worker will be affected by mental illness, either directly or indirectly.