McAuley Students Recognised During National Volunteer Week

Some of the Active Volunteering students with Ms Joanne Xuereb.

This week is National Volunteer Week which is celebrated from 19th - 25th May 2025.

“Volunteering makes you feel better about yourself and it is nice to give back to those in need,” says Jasmine, a Year 12 Active Volunteering student. “I feel more connected to my religion and more connected to God knowing that I am doing something good not for myself but for other people.”

This week is National Volunteer Week which is recognised nationally between 19th - 25th May. Catherine McAuley Westmead has many students who volunteer across a wide range of areas.

Delighted residents of BUPA Mosman Nursing Home with the cards written by Catherine McAuley students.

Senior students who have chosen to take Active Volunteering as a subject are all actively involved in volunteering but so are students who volunteer each week to visit the Cabrini Nursing Home, those who volunteer with Ronald McDonald House, those who read every Wednesday morning with primary school students from Mother Teresa and those who are busy crocheting items for the Parramatta Women’s Shelter.

Recently two students from the Active Volunteering class, Annelise and Ashleigh, wrote over 70 Easter cards for the elderly residents at BUPA Mosman Nursing Home. The cards were well received and a post was placed on their Facebook page with lots of photos of smiling residents holding the cards.

Ashley is an Active Volunteering student who volunteers each Saturday as an altar server at St Monica’s North Parramatta and Georgia spent three days during the last school holidays volunteering at the North Parramatta St Vincent de Paul charity shop.

Annelise and Ashleigh writing the Easter cards for the nursing home residents.

Annelise volunteers at her local soccer club where she works in the club cafeteria on the weekends. “It makes me feel good to help out and I get back a sense of connection and belonging.” Bonnie has chosen to volunteer with the Junior Rangers, an aboriginal program which sees older students learn about their culture and traditions and pass this onto younger students.

“During National Volunteer Week it is good to highlight the compassion and generosity of our students,” says Ms J. Xuereb, Leader of Learning Pathways & Partnerships and Teacher of Active Volunteering.