International students make up around a quarter of the 200 volunteers set to lend their support to regional Western Australia for this year’s John Curtin Weekend.
John Curtin Weekend, which runs from September 3 to October 14, is Curtin Volunteers! largest community project and is held to honour Australia’s wartime Prime Minister, John Curtin, by emulating his vision, leadership and commitment to community service.
This year, volunteers will visit 25 different sites across the State including the Avon Valley, Busselton, Chittering, Kalgoorlie, Gingin and Nungarin.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said the John Curtin Weekend offered a unique opportunity for students to give back to the community.
“Not only is this a great experience for students personally, but it’s also an opportunity to support metropolitan and regional communities, by helping with various tasks ranging from working on programs to prepare young people for employment, to gardening and building animal enclosures,” Professor Hayne said.
“The highly anticipated return of international students to Australia following the COVID pandemic means we are delighted to welcome 40 international students from 15 different countries to join our volunteers this year.
“I have no doubt the work of the student volunteers will make a meaningful impact on the communities they are supporting, and I would like to thank each of them for jumping on board and embodying the true values of John Curtin.”
John Curtin Weekend Coordinator Ms Rebecca Drummond, from Curtin Volunteers!, said she was looking forward to seeing what the team could achieve for local communities and organisations.
“This year, we have five new exciting events for our volunteers including our inaugural partnership with Foodbank,” Ms Drummond said.
“Volunteers will work alongside the Foodbank staff, stacking shelves, stock-taking, sorting produce and creating hampers for shoppers.
“We are so proud to be able to do the work we do. Our volunteers not only make a difference to local regional communities, but they also make an impact nationally – by working with organisations like Foodbank, one of the largest hunger relief charities in Australia.”
Further information on John Curtin Weekend can be found online here.
For more information about Curtin Volunteers!, visit here.
