Volunteer Vault #33

Gig Buddies Sydney
Mar 30
3 min read

For Volunteer Vault #33 we’re handing over to Charlotte (below, right), who tells us more about catch ups with buddy Tahli (below, left).

- How long have you been volunteering with Gig Buddies?

Tahli and I were paired in August 2025! We had our 1.5 year anniversary earlier this month.

- Is Gig Buddies your first volunteering role?

I have been volunteering on and off for the past 15-ish years. Back home in New Zealand during high school I volunteered at a local primary school, in the Student Volunteer Army following the Christchurch Earthquake, and more recently at the SPCA in Auckland.

In Sydney I spent a small period of time volunteering at Our Big Kitchen in Bondi prior to joining Gig Buddies. I am also a volunteer dentist with the Timor-Leste Dental Program, each year travelling to Timor-Leste for 1-2 weeks providing outreach dental care.

- Why do you volunteer with Gig Buddies?

I moved to Australia to pursue postgraduate study in 2023. I wanted to pick up a volunteering routine like I had back home, but wasn’t sure how I would fit this in around full-time study and working after-hours. I found the Gig Buddies website via a Google search and it looked to be the perfect mix of meeting new people, being able to explore Sydney, and flexible scheduling.

I completed the online application form and the rest is history.

- How would you describe your volunteering experience with Gig Buddies?

Gig Buddies doesn’t feel like volunteering! I feel like I get just as much, if not more out of it, as Tahli does. I’ve got a new best mate who I can chat to at any time and get to have regular catch-ups with.

Tahli and I have caught up at least once every month since we’ve been paired, and we plan to keep it that way! We have had a great balance of big concerts and events, Gig Buddies' socials, as well as low-key hang outs.

I enjoy volunteering due to the exposure you get to different people, events, and perspectives. Gig Buddies has exceeded all my expectations.

- Tell us about some of the highlights from your time volunteering with Gig Buddies?

Volunteering with Gig Buddies means that I always have something exciting coming up in the calendar! Tahli and I went to our first proper music gig - a Pink Tribute Concert in February of 2025 and it’s a night I’ll never forget. I’m not much of a dancer, but Tahli had me up and grooving all night long.

One pleasant surprise has been the wider friendships formed. Tahli has a great group of friends within Gig Buddies that have been so welcoming and fun to hang out with since day one. It’s like catching up with a group of good mates, whether at a Gig Buddies social, a planned gig, or someone's birthday.

- What would you say to someone reading this who is thinking about volunteering with Gig Buddies?

There is nothing to lose!

It is an amazing privilege to be part of such a fun and supportive community where everyone is so welcoming and kind - the staff, other volunteers, and participants.

The beauty of Gig Buddies is that as a pair you create your own journey, totally catered towards your combined interests and availability.

"I get just as much, if not more out of it…."

Thank you, Charlotte, for sharing your story. Your glowing words are a perfect summary of how we like to operate.

"The beauty of Gig Buddies is that as a pair you create your own journey, totally catered towards your combined interests and availability."

We’re fortunate to have amazing people like Charlotte on our books. She and Tahli are a prime example of two buddies catching up regularly, both of whom equally benefit from the friendship.

And we're always on the lookout for more people like Charlotte. If you would like to volunteer with us, look no further: to sign up with our Sydney project click here, and jump on this link to get involved on the Central Coast.

And to find out more about our current openings, click on the 'volunteers wanted' images below.

Are you looking to volunteer?