Volunteers help the world go round and it’s no different in the nation’s capital.
There are 279,000 volunteers in Canberra, according to VolunteeringACT.
National Volunteer Week is being celebrated by many from 19-25 May in 2025, to show appreciation for the unpaid heroes.
This year’s theme, Connecting Communities, highlights the vital role volunteers play in early intervention, community resilience and social cohesion within our community.
VolunteeringACT said volunteers were the backbone of numerous sectors, including health, education, community sport, environmental conservation, and community services.
“Their collective contribution adds up to over $14 billion in value each year,” a statement by VolunteeringACT said.
Disability, Carers and Community Services Minister Suzanne Orr MLA acknowledged the extraordinary contributions of volunteers across the ACT. She also encouraged Canberrans to explore the many ways they can get involved.
“We’re lucky to have many committed volunteers here in the ACT: three out of four Canberrans aged over 15 years volunteer in our community, either formally or informally,” Ms Orr said.
“From helping people in crisis to supporting environmental and animal welfare, Canberra’s volunteers are the quiet achievers who bring compassion, resilience and hope to our community.”
There are many places across Canberra that rely on volunteers, including the National Zoo and Aquarium, as well as RSPCA ACT and ACT Wildlife.
National Zoo and Aquarium volunteer and semi-retiree Kirrily Dearing said she loved helping the zookeepers with their day-to-day tasks.
“It’s not glamorous, but it is really fun. I come to work with a smile on my face, and I leave with a smile on my face,” Ms Dearing said.
National Zoo and Aquarium volunteer coordinator Megan Sharman said the about 130 volunteers were the lifeblood of the award-winning tourist attraction.
“It’s just the most incredible group of people. They all come in every week, and they all help out on different rounds,” Ms Sharman said.
“They basically work alongside our keepers — just having that extra set of hands is absolutely key as the zoo is a massive enterprise, so there’s a lot of work to be done.”
This includes preparing food, cleaning enclosures and conducting checks on the animals.
RSCPA ACT also relies on volunteers — as well as donations — to survive.
Chief Executive Officer Michelle Robertson said despite the mentally and physically demanding challenges of looking after the animals in their shelter, 300 people volunteered or fostered animals for the organisation.
“Our volunteers and fosters give of themselves, generously. Some give themselves every day. Weekends. Sacrificing sleep or family time. Our foster carers open their homes,” she said.
“Each month, we receive 1,400 hours gifted to us through volunteering.
“This does not include the full-time care provided by our foster carers.”
ACT Wildlife president Yana del Valle said volunteers were at the heart of their organisation.
“They give their time not just to save individual animals, but to preserve the natural balance of life in our region,” she said.
“Every life matters — from a rescued galah to a hand-raised wombat — and every life plays a vital role in the health of our local ecosystems.
“Canberra’s identity as the bush capital means we live alongside a rich diversity of native wildlife, and our volunteers work tirelessly to ensure these animals are given a second chance when they are injured, orphaned, displaced or in distress.”
To celebrate the week, ACT Wildlife launched a new volunteer recognition page on its website, inviting the community to acknowledge the extraordinary individuals who give their time, compassion, and skill to protect native wildlife that share our home in the bush capital. The page can be viewed here: actwildlife.net/volunteer-recognition
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