During National Volunteer Week (NVW), Heike Fleischmann, Volunteer Engagement & Capacity Building Manager at PCV, was honoured to be invited by Barwon Health as a guest speaker at their 2026 NVW Awards Breakfast held at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong. More than 90 volunteers, staff members and members from the Executive Team gathered to celebrate the extraordinary contribution volunteers make to their community every day.
The morning was filled with warmth, connection, and gratitude. Heike thoroughly enjoyed the many conversations shared with volunteers, listening to their personal stories, experiences, and highlights of volunteering with Barwon Health. These heartfelt moments reflected the compassion, generosity, and dedication that volunteers bring to their roles.
In her inspiring address, Heike reminded volunteers that their impact is not measured simply by the number of hours they give. It is seen in the dignity they help preserve, the reassurance they quietly offer, and the support they provide not only to patients and families, but also to staff and the broader community.
“These things don’t always appear in reports or dashboards,” she shared, “but they are felt every single day. Volunteers are not an ‘add-on’ to services — they are a vital part of the system.”
Heike Fleischmann during her address at the National Volunteers Week Breakfast
The Volunteer Awards Ceremony was a moving highlight of the event, recognising volunteers through Life Membership Awards, Years of Service Awards, Commitment Awards, Impact Awards, the Innovation Award, and the Young Volunteer Award.
Witnessing the joy and appreciation in the room was truly wonderful and a powerful reminder that volunteering changes not only the lives of others, but also the lives of those who give so generously.
Heike with Volunteers at the Barwon Health celebratory breakfast
Heike Fleischmann
Volunteer Engagement & Capacity Building Manager
Palliative Care Victoria
Email:
hfleischmann@pallcarevic.asn.au