From Volunteering to Belonging: Jack Yang’s Story

On a quiet morning at Lake Wendouree, as the sun rises and the water is still, a small group gathers.

They move slowly, breathing deeply, their hands drifting through the air in unison.

This is where Jack’s volunteer story began.

When he first arrived in Ballarat, he started practising Tai Chi by the lake on his own. There was no plan, no expectation. Just something he loved doing.

At first, people watched from a distance. Then one person stopped and asked to join.

“Can I try?”

Jack said yes.

Then another person joined. Then a family. Before long, that quiet moment began to grow.

Over time, it became something much bigger. A community.

People of all ages and backgrounds began showing up. Children, retirees, busy professionals. Strangers at first, then something more. Standing together, learning together, sharing time and space.

What started as a simple act of giving time became a place of connection.

Alongside Tai Chi, Jack began supporting Chinese migrants who were struggling with English.

“They felt lost. They felt silent.”

So he started teaching simple conversations. No formal structure, just people sitting together, learning and helping one another.

“I did not start doing this to get anything back,” Jack said. “I did it because it felt right.”

But over time, something shifted.

“The return I received has been richer than any paycheck.”

Through volunteering, he found joy in the everyday moments.

“There is a special joy when you see someone learn a new Tai Chi move, or when a migrant says a sentence in English.”

“That joy is medicine.”

He found purpose in showing up each day.

“And knowing that others are waiting for me each morning keeps me getting out of bed with purpose.”

And he found connection in ways he never expected.

When Jack and his family faced uncertainty about their future in Australia, the community he had helped build stood beside him.

“They signed petitions, wrote support letters, contacted lawyers and media.”

“They became my family here.”

Then came a moment that changed everything.

When Jack received the call confirming his permanent residency had been approved, the impact of that support became clear.

“The community saw what we were giving, and they gave back in the most profound way possible. They gave us a home here.”

It was not something he expected, but something he will never forget.

For Jack, volunteering has shaped not just his daily life, but his sense of belonging.

“Voluntary work is not just about helping others. It is a two way street.”

“The return is not always money. The return is health, happiness and belonging.”

His story is a reminder that volunteering creates connection in ways that go far beyond the moment.

Across Ballarat, stories like Jack’s are happening every day. In small acts, in shared time, in people choosing to give what they can.

As Jack described, the impact spreads like ripples on Lake Wendouree.

“One small act of kindness touches another, until the whole community is moving together.”