National Volunteer Week 2026 Storytelling Series
Roses in the Ocean celebrates volunteers involved in suicide prevention during National Volunteer Week 2026, held from 18th to 24th May. Through a storytelling series, the organisation highlights the impact of volunteers in building stronger communities.
The theme for this year, ‘Your Year to Volunteer’, invites Australians to engage in meaningful volunteer work. Roses in the Ocean, a national organisation focused on lived experiences of suicide, uses this opportunity to showcase volunteers who turn their personal experiences into support for others.
Amy, Head of Communications at Roses in the Ocean, stated, “These are not just volunteer stories. They are stories of courage, of giving back, and of people choosing to use their lived experience to walk alongside others in some of life’s most difficult moments.”
Impact of Volunteering
The storytelling series includes blogs, reflections, and video interviews demonstrating the benefits of volunteering for both the community and the volunteers. Many volunteers are inspired by the support they once received and seek to provide a similar presence for others.
Volunteering offers personal growth, skill development, and a sense of purpose. According to Roses in the Ocean, volunteers are trained to safely share their experiences and contribute to community initiatives, providing peer-based support.
One volunteer expressed, “Supporting others helped me recognise that what I already had—my lived experience—was enough.” This sentiment is central to the campaign, which aims to encourage more Australians to consider volunteering.
National Volunteer Week is the largest annual celebration of volunteering in Australia, acknowledging the efforts of millions who give their time and skills to support others. Roses in the Ocean uses this week to amplify the voices of those with lived experiences and demonstrate the real impact of volunteering.
Amy further commented, “At a time when many people are looking for connection and purpose, volunteering offers both. It’s about showing up, being human, and walking alongside someone else.”
Volunteers play a crucial role in community initiatives. They help build safer, more compassionate communities by using their personal experiences to provide peer-based support.
