The strength and power of the ASRC is found in our people and volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation, without whom the ASRC would cease to exist.

In fact, the ASRC first began as a small food bank in 2001, run mostly by volunteers. As the needs of the people we support grew, so did the ASRC services and often it was volunteers who mobilised to meet the new demand. As Kon Karapanagiotidis explains, “… when someone would turn up without Medicare… we just needed to respond. I remember taking a student on placement and saying to them “You’re starting the first health service for people seeking asylum in Victoria, that’s your social work placement”. Two weeks later, it was up and running.

Each and every program at the ASRC relies on the skills and passion of a committed volunteer workforce. Our volunteers come from diverse backgrounds adding richness of knowledge and providing experience that has expanded our services over the years. What has been so exceptional about our community is that people feel like they are being trusted to do good and what has stood out about our volunteers from day one is how hungry people are to help and make a difference.