Read this week's Council News
Behind every thriving community are the everyday people who make a difference — our volunteers.
This National Volunteer Week (19-25 May), we celebrate the incredible contributions of those helping to build a safe and strong community in Canterbury-Bankstown. Whether it’s mentoring adults in our Literacy Program, supporting local events or helping seniors stay connected, volunteers are making a real impact every day.
It’s a way to give back, but also a chance to gain new skills and boost your wellbeing. In fact, volunteers often report higher life satisfaction and a stronger sense of community connection.
Join us in giving back, one act of service at a time.
Imagine a world where everyone took time out of their busy schedules to help those less fortunate. A place where acts of kindness and generosity are the norm, and the only reward is the satisfaction of making someone else’s life a little bit easier.
For many people in our City, this is more than an imaginary place, it’s a reality that brings a deep sense of fulfilment. People like the selfless volunteers at our local State Emergency Services, or those who deliver meals to the elderly through our Meals on Wheels program, are the unsung heroes of our community.
More than six million people in Australia volunteer through organisations across our nation, day in and day out, and millions more volunteer informally in their local communities to help their neighbours and many times even strangers, especially in times of crisis.
National Volunteer Week 2025 (19-25 May) is an opportunity to highlight the important work and unfailing commitment of the many volunteers right here in our City.
There are thousands of people around our community whose generous services all contribute to making Canterbury-Bankstown one of the greatest places to live.
National Volunteer Week is also a timely opportunity to invite anyone not currently volunteering to make a start, find a cause you’re passionate about and begin your journey.
Whether you’re interested in caring for the environment, helping our youth or supporting the elderly, you too can play an important role in making a difference in our City.
From my own volunteer work with Meals on Wheels, I know there’s no better feeling than serving the community that serves you. This National Volunteer Week, I encourage everyone to thank a volunteer they know and to take the initiative to kick-start their volunteering journey.
For more information on where you can volunteer around our City, visit: cb.city/volunteering
Regards,
Mayor Bilal El-Hayek
A range of important plans are available for community feedback.
These plans identify the priorities for our community and Council for the next 10 years, how they will be achieved and how you can get involved:
- CB2036 – Community Strategic Plan for the City
- CBCity 2029 – Council’s Delivery Program 2025-29 and Operational Plan 2025/26
- Financial Management Strategy 2025-35
- Asset Management Strategy 2025-35
- People Strategy 2025-29
- Community Engagement Framework, Charter, Policy and Toolkit
We also have a new online tool where you can show us which services you would like Council to spend more on.
View the strategies, try the budgeting tool and have your say online before Sunday 1 June.
Season one of our podcast series, which focuses on amplifying the voices of our community, concludes with a conversation with a local young neurodivergent person.
Our guest, who chooses to remain anonymous, shares their lived experiences with autism and ADHD while also navigating the challenges of cultural stigma, both personally and within their family.