Powered by purpose: UTS students finding meaning through volunteering

Through volunteering, both Amelia and Mahir have found ways to give back to their communities, meet new people, and grow personally and professionally. Their stories reflect the theme of National Student Volunteer Week 2025 – #PoweredbyPurpose – which celebrates the values, beliefs and passions that drive young volunteers across Australia. 

Advocacy with impact 

Amelia’s journey into volunteering began early. ‘I probably started volunteering when I was about five,’ she says. Raised in Western Sydney, Amelia was deeply influenced by her mother’s experiences growing up in community housing and by the social challenges she witnessed in her own neighbourhood. 

‘I went to school with people who lived in their cars with single mothers. So, I understood first-hand the complexities and sensitivities and had this real understanding of social and political issues within our community.’ 

That understanding has fuelled her passion for advocacy, particularly in the domestic, family and sexual violence space. For the past four and a half years, Amelia has volunteered with What Were You Wearing? Australia (WWYW), a grassroots organisation focused on supporting survivors and driving policy change. 

‘I really believe that violence against women and children is a prevalent issue in Australia,’ she says. ‘Volunteering is a great way to create tangible change in this space.’ 

Her work has been transformative. Amelia has co-led 3 mass rallies in Sydney, helped pass a petition in NSW Parliament to mandate drink-spiking awareness training for hospitality workers, and worked with media outlets to raise awareness of gender-based violence. 

One of her proudest moments came after the first WWYW ‘No more: National rally against violence’ rally in April 2024, when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared violence against women a national emergency and called a national cabinet meeting. ‘It showed us that our efforts were paying off, and that victim survivors were being heard.’

Amelia’s advocacy work doesn’t stop at Australia’s borders. She also volunteered in North Sumatra in Indonesia to support a local NGO with environmental law work. ‘It was an incredible opportunity to give back in a meaningful way,’ she says, ‘It reminded me that change can happen anywhere – and that we all have a role to play.’ 

Finding connection and joy by giving back 

Mahir began volunteering to find connection. ‘When I started uni, making friends was really important to me,’ he says. ‘Volunteering helped me find my people and drastically improved my social circle.’ 
 
But it quickly became something much deeper – it helped him when it came to navigating life’s challenges. ‘When I’m feeling burnt out or stressed, one of the only things that helps make me feel productive and fulfilled is volunteering. It grounds me.’ 

Mahir has volunteered as a UTS Peer Networker, welcoming new students to campus and helping them settle in. He’s also taken part in The BIG Lift, a student-run volunteer group who organise road trips to regional towns to support local communities.  

‘I just got back from the 2025 UTS BIG Lift Winter Trip. We travelled to 9 towns including Wallendbeen where we helped the local community by doing odd jobs like gardening, waste disposal and general maintenance. 

‘There were points on the trip when I was feeling worn out or a bit flat but just seeing the faces of the community members light up lit me up on the inside as well,’ he says.  

‘Volunteering is all about a dedication to selflessness and service, whether it’s for a community I know or one far away.’

One of Mahir’s favourite volunteering memories has been reading the morning weather and traffic on community radio station 2SER, a collaboration between UTS and Macquarie University.  

‘Getting to speak on the radio first thing in the morning and know that I could be injecting a little bit of energy or joy into someone’s life makes me feel fulfilled,’ he says. 

As a journalism student, Mahir’s experience with 2SER help him envision his future career. ‘It brings me great joy knowing that this is just a taste of what I could potentially be doing after I graduate.’ 

Skills, growth and community 

Both Amelia and Mahir are participants in the UTS SOUL Award program, which recognises students for their work in community and social justice leadership skills. 

Through volunteering, they’ve developed a wide range of skills – from leadership and conflict resolution to media communication and cross-cultural understanding. 

‘I’ve learned so much about myself,’ says Amelia. ‘Your strengths, your weaknesses, and how they apply not just to your personal life but also your professional life.’ 

Mahir agrees. ‘Volunteering helped me see my leadership potential. Whether it was leading a campus tour or writing an article on the whim, I began to understand what leadership really means.’ 

Why volunteer? 

Volunteering rates in Australia have declined in recent years, especially since COVID-19. But students like Amelia and Mahir show that volunteering remains a powerful way to connect, contribute and grow. 

‘Recognising your privilege and having an understanding of issues in society – and ways you can create change – is so important,’ says Amelia.