Depending on a predominantly volunteer workforce, C Care is a front-line community organisation supporting individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and social isolation.  Reacting to the rapid growth in demand during the pandemic, C Care overcame the challenges posed by restrictions through implementing an extensive suite of changes to continue providing high quality service delivery.  Throughout, C Care demonstrably supported their volunteers to be resilient and adapt to the changing circumstances imposed by COVID-19.

Founded in 1856 as a place where disadvantaged women could give birth safely and receive proper medical care, the Royal Women’s Hospital is among the oldest and most distinguished women’s hospitals in the world.  In January 2021 the Hospital launched the Guide and Waitroom Support Volunteer Program to alleviate COVID-19 related pressures experienced by patients, their families and support people.  The Program helped over 20,000 patients navigate the hospital, access their appointments whilst feeling safe, cared for and supported.

Very Special Kids provides specialist palliative care for children and young people and tailored support for their families, through life, death and bereavement.  In the absence of in-person events, Very Special Kids turned to a range of innovative activities to continue supporting and connecting their volunteers, resulting in the volunteer cohort growing by 39% in 2021.  Very Special Kids has expanded the reach of their volunteer service delivery, notably to regional-rural volunteers, fostering opportunities to assist Victorian families in need of paediatric palliative care support.

An association that formed at the height of COVID-19 restrictions, the Parks Victoria, AMES and Sikh Partnership has demonstrated innovative thinking to provide over 4,000 kilograms of vegetables to community kitchens across the Wyndham municipality.  The program has now become an annual feature of the formal gardens at Werribee Park and has also been adopted by the South Sudanese Womens Group alongside Karen and Sikh community members to produce fresh vegetables for food relief.

A volunteer since 2009, Bassir has worked with various Victorian community organisations, including the Bakhtar Community organisation.  Bassir has worked tirelessly with all Afghan ethnicities by offering food relief, support to homeless people, people living with disability, victims of domestic violence, seniors and refugees.  Since the fall of Afghanistan, Bassir is involved in the resettlement program coordinating the provision of clothes, furniture and food relief to refugees.

As a husband-and-wife team Chris and Heather has dedicated over 10 years supporting the Mullum Mullum Indigenous Gathering Place, an Aboriginal Community controlled ogranisation.  One of their most significant contributions has been to help build and sustain the food relief program Mullum Pantry which has been running for 7 years.  They have also volunteered over many years to Lilydale SES, RoadSafe Yarra Ranges, Metropolitan Education Centre, Blackburn English Language School, Coranderrk Festival Committee and the Communities Council on Ethnic Issues Eastern Region.

Jaya led, in a voluntary capacity, the establishment of IndianCare, an organisation addressing the welfare needs of the diverse, growing Indian community in Victoria.  Utilising a strengths-based community development approach, Jaya led her fellow board members, staff and volunteers to address a broad range of welfare issues.  Jaya’s influence and leadership were instrumental to the Indian community throughout the pandemic, ensuring there was tailored, in-language, culturally specific support.  Under her leadership IndianCare grew from a small voluntary group to one of the largest Indian and South Asian community welfare organisations in Australia.