International Volunteer Day: Rural Aid Celebrates Volunteers Helping Farmers Rebuild
Rural Aid is celebrating International Volunteer Day this Friday by recognising the vital role volunteers play in strengthening farming communities across Australia.
In 2025, 156 volunteers rolled up their sleeves at Rural Aid’s Farm Recovery Events, with several corporate volunteers supporting their work. Across five events held throughout regional Victoria, South Australia, and New South Wales, volunteers contributed more than 6,400 hours of hands-on work, travelled over 180,000 kilometres, and supported 43 farms with pasture or yard debris clearing, painting, small household and property repairs, and fencing and gate repairs
Our Farm Recovery Events take us back onto farms and into communities that have faced bushfires, floods, droughts or storms in recent years. The 2025 Farm Recovery Events were held in:
- 4–10 May – Bairnsdale, VIC
- 15–21 June – Eudunda, SA
- 20 July – 2 August – Coraki, NSW
- 7–13 September – Wingham, NSW
- 26 October – 1 November – Peak Hill, NSW
Rural Aid Chief Operations Officer Brian Morton said volunteers remain one of the organisation’s greatest strengths.
“Every hour donated and every kilometre travelled makes a real difference,” Mr Morton said. “Through our Farm Recovery Events, volunteers don’t just rebuild farms — they lift spirits and show our farmers that Australians genuinely care.”
A Coraki, NSW farmer who hosted volunteers this year, Tony Carusi, said the support of volunteers was crucial.
“Jobs like fencing, clearing debris, cleaning flooded machinery parts… these are hard to get on top of when our focus is on re-establishing cattle and crops,” he said. “The help Rural Aid volunteers provide is a huge mental boost.”
A first-time volunteer for Rural Aid in 2025 was Neville Leclere, who said the experience was deeply rewarding.
“I’d always wanted to do this kind of volunteering,” he said. “Working alongside farmers and being welcomed by the community was fantastic. I’ll definitely be back.”
Rural Aid’s 2026 Farm Recovery Event calendar is nearly finalised, with more opportunities for everyday Australians and corporate groups to lend a hand.
Interested in lending a hand? Register today at: www.ruralaid.org.au/volunteers.
About Rural Aid:
Rural Aid is Australia’s leading rural charity, committed to supporting farmers and rural communities through good times and tough. Since 2015, Rural Aid has been a vital lifeline in times of hardship, delivering practical assistance such as mental health counselling, hay, drinking water, and community connection initiatives. Now celebrating 10 years of service, the organisation continues to stand shoulder to shoulder with rural Australians, helping them overcome hardship, build resilience, and create stronger, more sustainable futures.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Daniel Brown
Media and Communications Officer
0447 116 757
daniel.brown@ruralaid.org.au