Running for more than a decade, V4U Day is an annual event that connects students, staff and alumni with volunteering opportunities.
This year's V4U Day kicked off at VU Footscray Park Campus, for registration and breakfast, with a high-energy DJ setlist to get the morning started.
From there, 268 VU volunteers travelled in groups, expertly led by VU student leaders, helping out at 17 different community organisations and schools in the west.
The VU student, staff and alumni volunteers got involved in a range of activities: in the outdoors, with Clean Up Australia, Iramoo Plant Nursery and Werribee River Association; painting gallery walls at Footscray Community Arts; and community walks with residents at Doutta Galla Aged Service Footscray.
VU student Sachini Nipunsala volunteered at West Welcome Wagon, an organisation that provides asylum seekers and refugees with essential items, supporting them as they rebuild their lives in Australia. Sachini said that "packing and wrapping items with West Welcome Wagon to help people in need was such rewarding work."
VU staff were also proud to be involved - getting to know new people and seeing community impact in action. Claire Biscombe, Course Transformation Lead at VU volunteered at the GREEN Lab, Iramoo Native Nursery, based at VU St Albans Campus.
She said it was a "great day and a good reminder of the power of people to make an impact in the community. My team leader was amazing. To see so many people involved really highlighted how VU lives by its values."
Hamish George, who recently started as an Industry Engagement Lead at VU, said rolling up his sleeves for outdoor maintenance at Dinjerra Primary School was an "awesome experience. I'm new to VU and V4U Day provided an amazing opportunity to meet fellow staff."
The day wrapped up back at VU Footscray Park Campus, with a pizza party, dance classes and music.
Event organiser Ryan Dao, who has managed the event for four years, said "every year it's incredibly rewarding to see so many people come together to make a real difference in our community."
Want to get involved in volunteering? Check out VU Vollies program.
