Harshith Ghanta is a student of the Master of Information Technology and Systems at the University of Canberra and volunteers at the UCX Food Pantry. The pantry provides UC students with access to free food and supplies. He also works with the ‘Respect.Now.Always’ campaign, which educates and supports staff and students about gender-based violence. Further, Harshith started the UC International Club to help international students navigate life in Australia.

Harshith is not new to volunteering. Before this, he volunteered in India in community service projects for over four years and was an active Rotary member. Growing up with his parents’ support, he became aware of the stark contrast faced by children in orphanages and government schools, who often lacked the same opportunities and support as other children. This awareness led him to dedicate his time to helping these children. One of the many programs he volunteered for was career guidance for students in government schools, helping them explore future careers and inspiring them with stories of success.

Additionally, Harshith organised blood donation drives and fundraising events for different charities.

His enthusiasm, inquisitiveness, and genuine drive to make things better for everyone around him make Harshith a valued presence in every community he serves. When asked what he gets out of volunteering Harshith said, “At the end of the day, I feel like a good human.”

DonateLife Week is a national awareness week that takes place in July each year to encourage more Australians to get behind organ and tissue donation. This year DonateLife Week is taking place from Sunday 27 July to Sunday 3 August 2025.

Bobbi Campbell (R) volunteers to raise awareness and funds for DonateLife Week to increase organ and tissue registration and donation. Bobbi has lead the local Cycling Challenge for the past three years and will lead this year’s Donate Life ACT Cycling Challenge 2025 in her magenta jersey. This year the 100+ cyclists are also raising funds for palliative care services in the ACT.

Bobbi also volunteers her time and expertise on the VolunteeringACT Board and its finance committee. She has been a director on multiple boards and advisory committees.

Bobbi leads a legal practice and provides pro bono services at Synergy Law. She provides VolunteeringACT members with legal advice relating to the public good. Synergy lawyers volunteer their time to support ACT not-for-profits which is a central tenet of the Synergy Law approach Bobbi enacts locally.

Min volunteers at Meridian with its Roundabout Project. She meets people with disabilities and provides friendship and support for social engagement and community connection with the LGBTQIA+ community in the ACT. She also volunteers with the events team at Trans Justice Canberra.

Pride Month, for Min, is a time of both celebration and reflection. “It’s about honouring the struggles and victories of the LGBTQIA+ community (past and present) and acknowledging that Pride started as a protest. It reminds us that visibility, equality, and the right to live authentically are still things we must actively defend and support.”

Min believes, ‘inclusion is a crucial part of volunteering for the community, because it’s what keeps us grounded in the work that we do. It’s a reminder that we’re striving to create a more fair, approachable, and all-encompassing environment, where everyone (regardless of class, race, ability or creed) can work together to better the lives of those around them.’

We are thankful for Min’s volunteering contributions to our community.

Jane has been the community engagement volunteer at the Community Info Hub since March 2025. She is the first point of contact for visitors, providing them with tourist and community information. She also assists visitors in using other free services at the Hub, such as making tea/coffee, using computers, using the phone, or printing documents.

Jane was introduced to the Community Info Hub after participating in our Inclusive Volunteering Pathways to Employment program. She volunteers with her son, Darren, at the Hub.

Inclusion for Jane means “being accepted, being useful, helpful…knowing that I do have value. I once heard Dylan Alcott (Australian paralympic athlete and 2022 Australian of the Year) on television about how he deals with his disability and it helped me feel proud of who I am and what I have achieved because I do know I have achieved!”

Volunteering has given Jane the opportunity to connect and help people. She adds, “noticing the impact I have on others, even during a brief five-minute interaction, brings joy as they leave with a smile. I realised this on my second volunteering shift when I began making relationships. People recognised me and called me by my name.”

When asked for a message for people considering volunteering, Jane said, “jump in and do it! It will be one of the best things you’ll do! Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Jane’s son, Darren, shared his experience volunteering at the Hub: “Volunteering has connected me to the community. It has grounded me and made me appreciate more things. It has made me feel all the feelings—and it’s enlightening.”

Both Jane and Darren shared that volunteering has made them humbled in unexpected ways.

We are thankful for their volunteering contributions to our community.

Meet Ellie, one of Roundabout Canberra’s incredible volunteers, whose story is profiled in the Youth Volunteering Toolkit for Young People and whose passion and dedication helps bring an inclusive Canberra to life every day.

Ellie started volunteering when she was 19. She loves to volunteer in the community, church, disability sector and supporting families in Canberra. One of her first volunteering roles was at the ‘Branch Out Café’ with Carers ACT. She was looking for disability inclusive opportunities and to get out in the community and this role was the perfect fit.

“So much essential work in the community is volunteer based, work which might not get done if there was a profit motive in place. Volunteering has great benefits for both volunteer-based organisations and the people they support but also provides a sense of community and wellbeing for volunteers themselves.”

Ellie’s advice for young volunteers is:

“Go for something you’re passionate about. With a paid job you sometimes have to sacrifice doing what you want to do for doing what you have to do, but with volunteering you can go straight to doing what brightens your soul.”

Anne – Community Engagement Volunteer, Community Info Hub

Anne has been volunteering at the Community Info Hub since October 2023, where she has used her strengths and talents to help the community. When asked about her thoughts on volunteering, she said, “Being new to Australia, working at the Info Hub helped me to learn a lot about Canberra. I enjoy interacting with colleagues and helping the less fortunate, and am motivated by the opportunity to meet different people and learn new things myself every day. Seeing the end results of my work and seeing the look of satisfaction on the face of the people I have helped have been memorable moments.”  

When asked if volunteering is something she would recommend to others, Anne stated:  “Absolutely – It’s a way to give back to society and to learn new things”  

We are thankful to Anne’s contribution to the Info Hub and proud to have her in our team!  

Meet Ellie, one of Roundabout Canberra’s incredible volunteers, whose story is profiled in the Youth Volunteering Toolkit for Young People and whose passion and dedication helps bring an inclusive Canberra to life every day.

Ellie started volunteering when she was 19. She loves to volunteer in the community, church, disability sector and supporting families in Canberra. One of her first volunteering roles was at the ‘Branch Out Café’ with Carers ACT. She was looking for disability inclusive opportunities and to get out in the community and this role was the perfect fit.

“So much essential work in the community is volunteer based, work which might not get done if there was a profit motive in place. Volunteering has great benefits for both volunteer-based organisations and the people they support but also provides a sense of community and wellbeing for volunteers themselves.”

Ellie’s advice for young volunteers is:

“Go for something you’re passionate about. With a paid job you sometimes have to sacrifice doing what you want to do for doing what you have to do, but with volunteering you can go straight to doing what brightens your soul.”