National Volunteer Week: Celebrating the heart of our community

This National Volunteer Week, we’re shining a light on the incredible people who give their time, energy and spirit to help us bring joy and connection to children living with disability or illness and their families. 

The 2025 theme, “Connecting Communities,” couldn’t be more fitting. Our volunteers are the threads that weave together kindness, community and care – creating unforgettable moments for the families we support and helping KidsWish events come to life. 

To every registered KidsWish volunteer, thank you. To the high school students from Corpus Christi Catholic High School, St Mary Star of the Sea College, Kiama High School, and The Illawarra Grammar School, thank you. To the tireless entertainers who bring the sparkle, the staff of The Disability Trust who go above and beyond, and the many community groups and local Illawarra businesses who generously step up – we thank you all. Your time and dedication make the magic happen. 

Our volunteers help with everything from packing goody bags to cooking up a storm on the BBQ. They bring colour and fun to fundraising events with face painting, selling raffle tickets, and creating hype and excitement. At family events, they’re the friendly faces greeting guests, serving food, and making everyone feel welcome. They play basketball and cornhole, paint nails, lead craft sessions and dance like no one’s watching – because they know joy is contagious. Check out the carousel of images below!

To all our volunteers – past, present, and future – thank you. You help us build connections, create smiles, and make memories that last a lifetime.

Find out more about National Volunteer Week at Volunteering Australia.

Want to know more about volunteering with KidsWish?

KidsWish is committed to enriching the lives of children living with disability or illness – and we need your help to do it! Our volunteers support family and fundraising events and, most importantly, help us bring fun to the kids. We welcome volunteers from 12 years of age (with those aged 12–15 accompanied by a supervising adult). Volunteers over 18 must hold a current Working with Children Check (WWCC) and National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Check (NDISWC) – both free for volunteers via Service NSW. 

Exciting volunteer opportunities are just around the corner, including the Wollongong Wolves Charity Match, School Holiday Activities at KidsWish House, Shell Con Mania, and the Science Spectacular. If you’re ready to be part of something special, we’d love to hear from you.

Email us at volunteers@kidswish.org.au to find out more.