Daniella Conser found volunteering involved difficult conversations but brought many unexpected benefits. Read more community stories.
When I was eight, I was given an amethyst for my birthday. I was fascinated by the ability of the earth to form this incredible thing, I thought it was amazing. I was given a geology book and started collecting crystals and rocks and digging for dinosaur bones in my backyard.
Something that always blows my mind is that everything you use in your everyday life, from your phone and your furniture to a house and a car has come from the earth.
My fascination with the earth and all the amazing things the earth’s processes create inspires me to dedicate my energy, knowledge and time to help mitigate climate change and protect our earth, the animals and our lives on it.
I love volunteering. It gives me a lot of energy, makes me feel purposeful and gives me so much happiness and hope in a space where the climate is degrading, and the government doesn't back the things I would really love to see.
Photo: courtesy Daniella Conser
Daniella is an ACF volunteer based in Melbourne. Want to follow in Daniella's footsteps and experience the diverse opportunities you get from volunteering? Sign up for a welcome call and talk to a real person about ACF's current volunteering opportunities all across the country.
You get so many diverse opportunities to develop skills you wouldn't be able to do in your everyday job or at university and you get to meet so many different people.
I love volunteering. It gives me a lot of energy, makes me feel purposeful and gives me so much happiness and hope in a space where the climate is degrading, and the government doesn't back the things I would really love to see.
It’s so important to enrich yourself with different cultures, people and perspectives. I've lived in the same city my whole life. If you interact just with your own circle, you don't get to meet people from different walks of life. Volunteering helps you do that.
Within ACF, you meet people who have the same goals and care about the environment. You have a shared passion. You also get to talk to people who strongly disagree with you, and you're able to see the other side.
As much as those conversations are difficult, it's important to have them because it helps you understand where these people are coming from.
I hope for a future where we have a society that cares a lot about climate change and nature issues, and policy makers that listen and are scientifically literate. That would be awesome.
Read more stories about the people who make ACF Community powerful.
Right now ACF has 42 community groups all across the country. Find out more about your local ACF Community group or start your own.
Interested in hearing about all the volunteer opportunities ACF has to offer? Sign up for a welcome call.
Header photo: courtesy Daniella Conser
