Published July 2025
New Farm girl Evie Wright, aged 10, has become the first child to speak in a Parliamentary Inquiry since 2009, advocating for youth volunteering.
At the Parliamentary Inquiry into Volunteering at Queensland Parliament House in April, All Hallows’ School student Evie said: “The best part of volunteering is knowing I am helping others in my community. It feels good to give back.”
“We learned about important issues like poverty, hunger and mental health and how these challenges affect real people, including children and families just like ours.
“I also think it is a great way to build skills that will help me when I am older at school, at work and in life,” she said.
Evie spoke as a representative of commonkind, a charity that provides age-appropriate volunteer opportunities to children.
“…Most charities do not let you volunteer if you are under 16. This (program) gave me a chance to make a real difference, even though I am still in primary school,” she said.
Evie urged people to listen more to the children’s opinions.
“You have to make a safe space for them, and they will come out of their shell and have amazing ideas. Sometimes adults will look over children even though they have a whole mind,” she said.
Carolina Puleston, CEO and Founder of commonkind, said not many schools provide structured volunteering experiences with external community organisations.
“Service learning… is critical to the future of volunteering in Queensland.
“It has been proven to enhance wellbeing, reduce bullying and support both student and teacher welfare,” Ms Puleston said.
