Celebrating Volunteer Week: Honouring the People Who Make Our Mission Possible.
Volunteer Week is one of the most meaningful moments in the Navitas Skilled Futures (NSF) calendar. It is a chance to pause, reflect, and recognise our extraordinary Volunteer Tutors who give their time, energy, and heart to support our students. While their contributions happen quietly and often behind the scenes, their impact is anything but small. Our volunteers shape experiences, strengthen communities, and help us reach people and places we could never reach alone.
In a world where time is stretched thin, every hour spent volunteering is a conscious choice to show up, care, and make a meaningful difference. Volunteering is an act of generosity that deserves to be recognised and celebrated.
“Volunteer week is an important time to recognise the role that volunteers have in providing support to the community in so many ways. Our volunteer tutors at NSF are amazing individuals who go above and beyond to assist new migrants and refugees with the language skills they need to settle in Australia,” says Marcella Aguilar, Volunteer Tutor Coordinator at NSF.
The Heart of NSF Community
We deliver the Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) to some of our clients. The AMEP is a free service to help eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants improve their English language skills settle into Australia. The AMEP is funded by the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. NSF encourages these people to join the NSF community particularly those who would like some extra help to develop their English skills and settle into life in Australia.
Our volunteers bring a spirit of compassion and commitment that defines who we are. They mentor, guide, organise, support, and inspire NSF clients. They bring skills from every corner of life and apply them in ways that create real and lasting changes.
Whether they are helping students learn English at home, at the library or in real life everyday situations or providing guidance on making a doctor’s appointment, their contribution strengthens NSF’s commitment. A commitment to deliver trusted English language, education, and employment-focussed programs to help clients reach their learning goals.
NSF client Thanh says, “Dear my beautiful tutor. I am very grateful for everything you have done for me. I know it is not easy to teach someone who is working, since there are times when I suddenly get busy. You have made a great effort to arrange your time to teach me, and I find that studying online from home is very convenient because of that. Thank you for everything.”
Why Their Work Matters
The impact of volunteering goes far beyond just education; it builds connection, fosters belonging and creates opportunities for people to grow. Not just the clients the volunteers teach but the volunteers themselves.
Speaking about the tutoring experience with NSF, Bankstown Volunteer Tutor Robin mentions, “Thank you for this valuable opportunity and your wonderful support throughout. It was a precious experience for me.”
Our NSF tutors tell us that volunteering gives them purpose, confidence, and a sense of community they did not expect. They deeply value the differences they make by providing one-on-one learning support to NSF clients.
“Thank you for the support you have provided during my time as a tutor at Navitas! It was a great experience, and I wish you all the best moving forward,” says Maryam, Volunteer Tutor at NSF Fairfield.
It is Your Year to Volunteer – A Theme That Invites Everyone
This Year’s theme, ‘It’s Your Year to Volunteer,’ is more than just a slogan; it is an open invitation. Whether someone has been volunteering for years or is considering it for the first time, this theme encourages everyone to take the next step.
At NSF, our volunteers who volunteer through the Volunteer Tutor Scheme (VTS) are not just part of our ongoing journey, but they help pave it. It does not matter if you are someone who can give an hour or multiple days a week; every bit counts. These individual acts of generosity collectively impact and strengthen the NSF community.
“The VTS plays an integral role by providing individualised support for AMEP learners. It enables our clients to prepare for citizenship tests, get employment, join various groups, and connect with their local community. Tutors provide the link between the learners’ needs and successful outcomes. The program would not exist without our incredible tutors,” adds Marcella.
Looking Ahead
This Volunteer Week, we look forward to expanding opportunities for people to get involved. There is no perfect moment to start giving back, no special qualification required, and no single pathway to making a difference. Everyone has a chance to volunteer.
To every volunteer who has walked through our doors, raised their hand to help – we thank you and appreciate you.
The VTS works across Sydney’s Southwest and the Canberra region. Become a Volunteer Tutor and help others to develop their English and digital skills and settle into life in Australia. Apply today and become a volunteer tutor.
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