Young Australians are being encouraged to step up, get involved and make their mark as National Youth Volunteer Week begins across the country.

Running from 10–16 August 2026, the national campaign celebrates the energy, ideas and impact of young volunteers while encouraging more young people to discover volunteering in ways that reflect their interests and values.

The message is simple: leadership is not something young people have to wait for.

Young Australians are already contributing to their communities through mentoring, environmental projects, community initiatives, emergency response and causes they care about.

But there is still room for more young people to get involved. Recent volunteering data shows that 16.4 per cent of Australians aged 15–24 participated in voluntary work through an organisation in 2025. That means millions of young people are contributing their time, skills and energy but many others have yet to find an opportunity that works for them.

And volunteering isn’t necessarily about giving up huge amounts of time.

For some young people, it could mean helping at a local event. For others, it might involve supporting an environmental project, mentoring someone, contributing creative or digital skills, or getting involved with a community organisation.

The benefits can go both ways. Volunteers contribute to their communities while gaining opportunities to build connections, develop skills and take on responsibility.

Volunteering Australia says National Youth Volunteer Week recognises that volunteering looks different at different stages of life and encourages organisations to create opportunities that are safe, inclusive, meaningful and supportive for young people.

The campaign is also calling on young volunteers to share their experiences, with stories from volunteers aged 16 to 25 invited for the opportunity to be featured by Volunteering Australia.

As National Youth Volunteer Week gets underway, the focus is not simply on celebrating what young people have already done.

It is about encouraging them to ask a bigger question:

What could you change if you decided to lead today?

Because leadership does not always begin with a title. Sometimes, it begins with showing up.