Australian Volunteers Program

03/09/2026

Volunteering has always been close to Australian volunteer Simon Millcock's heart. When he came to Cambodia a few years ago, he connected with SPOONS Cambodia Organization, a not-for-profit organisation that trains young Cambodians from vulnerable background to build a career in culinary and hospitality.

With 25 years’ experience in the field of regional development, Simon uses his skills to support the organisation in business developing and connecting young chefs from SPOON to international exchange opportunities, as well as bringing in Chef Outta Water and Australian chefs like Michael Brine and Judyta Slupnicki to train the students.

Through the Australian Volunteers Program, Simon has played an important role in supporting the students in launching their career in the hospitality industry.

02/09/2026

From remote mentoring to returning to Mongolia year after year. 🇦🇺🤝🇲🇳

Australian volunteer Jennie Vormwald is working alongside the Zavkhan Province Department of Education to support English teachers across Uliastai and remote soums.

What began online in 2022 has grown into a long-term partnership strengthening teacher confidence, classroom practice and opportunities for students.

A wonderful example of what can grow from sharing skills, listening and learning together. 💛

Discover more Australian volunteer stories like these via 🔗Link in Bio

31/08/2026

Celebrating 75 Years of Australians Volunteering Internationally! 🌏

Past and current volunteers came together with some very special guests to reflect on 75 years of stories, partnerships and people-to-people connections. 💛

A special thank you to the Governor-General Sam Mostyn for hosting, to Senator the Hon Penny Wong, the Hon Dr Anne Aly MP and Australian volunteer alumnus Dr Matt Bray for sharing their reflections.

75 years of stories - and many more still being written. ✨

31/08/2026

A warm welcome to the newest Australian volunteers, Kate Newsome and Jane Hawtin, who have arrived in Papua New Guinea and completed their in-country orientation before heading to their new communities and partner organisations. 🇵🇬🤝🇦🇺

📍In Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, Kate will work alongside CARE International in Papua New Guinea as a Communications and Social Media Mentor.

📍In Buka, Autonomous Region of Bougainville, Jane will join the Hako Women's Collective, Bougainville as an Organisational Development and Compliance Support Mentor.

Their first week also provided an opportunity to connect with other Australian volunteers already living and working in Goroka and Buka, visit partner organisations and get a glimpse of the communities they’ll soon call home.

We wish Kate and Jane all the best as they settle in, meet their new colleagues and begin sharing skills, learning and working alongside their partners on locally led priorities. 🙌

30/08/2026

26/08/2026

26/08/2026

25/08/2026

'It was a privilege to be a part of that; to be invited, and to be welcomed.'

Australian volunteer Andrew Trigg spent 12 months as a Library Mentor with Pohnpei Public Library in the Federated States of Micronesia - but some of his biggest lessons had little to do with books.

Working alongside a community-led organisation challenged Andrew to rethink what success looked like: to let go of predetermined expectations, trust his colleagues, follow local priorities and embrace a different way of working together.

Along the way came successful grants, new partnerships and projects supporting the library’s future. But ask Andrew what he’s proudest of, and it’s the relationships and “day-to-day fellowship” with his colleagues that remain with him.

Now back in Australia, those connections and the work they started together continue.

Read Andrew’s story and discover what 12 months of living, learning and volunteering in Pohnpei taught him about locally led change 🔗https://www.australianvolunteers.com/stories/it-was-a-privilege-to-be-invited-and-welcomed/?utm_medium=socialorganic&utm_source=website&utm_campaign=generic+links

📸Librarian Emyleen Albert Charley (left) and Australian volunteer Andrew Trigg inside the Pohnpei Public Library.

25/08/2026

Recently, for International Youth Day, Australian volunteer Dr Cheryl Crosthwaite joined PEPY Empowering Youth in Siem Reap, supporting their work to empower rural Cambodian youth through personal and professional development.

With 15 years of international experience, Cheryl is now sharing her skills while working alongside PEPY to support the next generation of young leaders.

Australian Embassy, Cambodia