National Volunteer Week was again a wonderful week to thank who do so much for our community.
Through the Ballarat Foundation’s Volunteering Ballarat program, we support dozens of volunteer-involving organisations. Volunteers are imperative to keep the community heartbeat alive and help to keep our city thriving.
So many of our basic structures of our community are fortified by the support of volunteers - sporting groups and games, supporting disadvantaged people, servicing the young and the young at heart and so much more.
For individuals, volunteering provides an opportunity for connection and a sense of belonging, and it can bring meaning and purpose to your life, while increasing your self-esteem and wellbeing.
We were thrilled to bring another Volunteer Expo to Ballarat as part of National Volunteer Week at Barkly Square. There are so many opportunities for volunteering in our community and it was great to see so many people come along and explore their options.
Community groups such as Food is Free, Ballarat and Regional Multicultural Council, OpShop, cafs, pinarc, SES, Rotary and many, many more, came along to the expo to speak with prospective volunteers about their organisations.

One of our favourite celebrations every year is the Volunteer Morning Tea and this year we hosted the morning tea at Sovereign Hill. It was truly wonderful to be able to thank the compassionate and enthusiastic people who volunteer in our community. Sovereign Hill enhanced the morning tea with an atmosphere from a bygone era, while we all enjoyed a chat over a hot cuppa.
We appreciate everyone who volunteers, for bringing so much positive change to Ballarat and making our community a better place to be. Thank you to all the volunteers who came along this morning and thank you to Sovereign Hill for having us.

