As Australia celebrates National Volunteer Week from 20 to 26 May, the St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria (SVDPV) invites Victorians to come and celebrate the invaluable contributions of more than 11,000 volunteers in a very special way.
From Tuesday to Friday, 21–24 May, SVDPV will host an interactive exhibition, including an 8-metre-long timeline powered by AR (Artificial Reality) at Melbourne’s Xavier College in Kew.
The exhibition will offer visitors a captivating journey through the organisation’s 170 years of supporting Victorians in need. Located where the first SVDPV college conference began in 1908, it will showcase the charity’s enduring legacy and the transformative impact of its volunteers on thousands of Victorians in need.
This exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the rich tapestry of SVDP’s history and the extraordinary contributions of our members and volunteer
The theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week, ‘Something for Everyone’, resonates deeply with SVDPV’s ethos of service and compassion. With a diverse array of services, programs and initiatives, including our 115 Vinnies shops across Victoria, there truly is ‘something for everyone’ within the St Vincent de Paul Society.
‘This exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the rich tapestry of SVDP’s history and the extraordinary contributions of our members and volunteers,’ says St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria State President Michael Quinn.
‘It is a testament to the enduring legacy of compassion and solidarity that has defined our charity for more than 170 years.’
Our members’ and volunteers’ unwavering dedication and compassion empower us to continue our mission of serving those in need.
In Victoria alone, more than 3,700 people volunteer in SVDP’s core work of local grassroots assistance, more than 6,100 volunteers serve in Vinnies shops, and more than 700 people volunteer on soup van teams.
‘Our members’ and volunteers’ unwavering dedication and compassion empower us to continue our mission of serving those in need, ensuring their human rights are protected, and building a more just and compassionate society for all,’ Mr Quinn says.
The exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday 21 May to Friday 24 May, 11am to 4pm, at Xavier College’s Eldon Hogan Performing Arts Centre, 135 Barkers Road, Kew 3101 (entry is from Charles Street).
You can find more information about SVDP Australia and explore volunteer opportunities here.
Banner image: Part of the 8-metre long timeline that forms part of the SVDPV’s interactive exhibit at Xavier College, celebrating 170 years of volunteering. (Photo courtesy of SVDPV.)
