Volunteering as a pathway from recovery to community contribution

This project by the Mettle Women was supported through Volunteering WA’s Volunteer Management Activity, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

Mettle Together: A project helping women experiencing domestic violence connect with community

Women experiencing family and domestic violence often face significant barriers to volunteering and community participation. Many experience social isolation, reduced confidence, and uncertainty about how to reconnect with their communities in ways that feel safe and supportive.

Mettle Together was created to address these challenges. The pilot program brought together women who had previously participated in Mettle Women’s employment pathways programs and paired them with peer mentors who had lived experience of family and domestic violence recovery.

At the start of the project, many participants were interested in volunteering but lacked confidence and clear pathways to get involved. Five of the seven mentors had never volunteered before. Participants identified goals such as building confidence, improving communication skills, developing mentoring skills, giving back to their community, and finding a stronger sense of purpose.

Pre-program surveys reflected this uncertainty. Only 14.3% of participants strongly agreed they had clear goals for their future career or volunteering, while over half (57.1%) felt neutral. Similarly, only 14.3% strongly agreed they knew where to find volunteering opportunities that felt safe and supportive.

Despite these challenges, participants expressed a strong desire to connect with others who shared similar experiences and to move beyond their identity as service users towards becoming active contributors in their communities. Mettle Together used a trauma-informed and co-designed approach to volunteering. Participants helped shape activities based on their interests, goals, and identified barriers to participation.

A key feature of the program was the involvement of mentors with lived experience. Through mentor communication groups, planning meetings, and facilitator consultations, mentors helped design activities that prioritised safety, flexibility, and connection.

Mettle Together used a trauma-informed and co-designed approach to volunteering

Community Tree Planting Day

One of the most successful activities was the Community Tree Planting Day. During co-design sessions, participants identified a desire to give back after receiving support during their family and domestic violence recovery journey. Many also wanted opportunities to volunteer alongside their children, allowing them to contribute to their community while exposing their children to volunteering from a young age. The family-friendly format created a welcoming environment where women could participate without the childcare barriers that often prevent engagement. Participants described the experience as both meaningful and empowering:

“I loved the opportunity to say yes to an opportunity to contribute, be engaged and connect whilst including my children.”
“I can engage in events and with people even when it feels really hard to stretch myself.”

Volunteering to help other families in need

Their volunteering day at Little Things for Tiny Tots, an organisation supplying essential baby items to WA families in need, provided another important opportunity for growth. For many women, it was their first experience volunteering in an unfamiliar environment.

“It really took me out of my comfort zone and gave me a different sense of purpose. I really enjoyed that, the sense of giving back. I was supported by such lovely people. I would love to do that again.”
“Going to an unfamiliar environment with some familiar faces was good. It was rewarding.”

Throughout the project, mentors played a critical role in creating emotional safety. Participants reported that seeing women with similar lived experiences volunteering and leading activities helped them feel more comfortable and inspired. One participant explained:

“Seeing the mentors’ participation and the program coordinator, who also has lived experience, really changed the way I see my own lived experience. My personal experience and growth can help others in the community. Volunteering is such a practical and wonderful way to help and gave me the feeling that I’m in the next stage.”

Outcomes

By the end of the project, participants demonstrated significant growth in confidence, connection, and future aspirations. Post-program surveys showed:

100% had opportunities to participate in community activities that felt safe and welcoming.
100% had clear goals for their future career or volunteering.
100% felt confident they could contribute through volunteering or community involvement.
100% reported increased confidence and communication skills.
100% felt encouraged and supported by women with similar lived experiences.
100% felt part of a supportive network of women.

Participants described their key achievements as gaining a sense of purpose, building confidence, reconnecting with their community, and discovering meaningful ways to volunteer with their children.

The impact extended beyond individual participants. Two women committed to continuing tree planting activities with their children every two months, and Mettle has now incorporated family-friendly tree planting into its annual volunteer program.

“I found it really inspiring, stimulating and energising. Every time I interacted, I found it inspiring. I could just show up as myself and see if there was any value I could offer, and I found out there was.” – Mettle Together participant

The project also influenced community partners. Following the tree planting activity, the volunteer coordinator from Friends of Clontarf Hill approached Mettle to discuss future opportunities for collaboration and expressed interest in welcoming more participants to future volunteering activities.

Perhaps the most significant outcome was the shift in how participants viewed themselves. Women moved from seeing themselves as recipients of support to recognising themselves as volunteers, mentors, contributors, and leaders.

Key Learnings

Volunteering can be a powerful pathway from recovery to contribution when opportunities are trauma-informed, flexible, relationship-based, and supported by lived-experience leadership. The presence of peer mentors, family-inclusive volunteering opportunities, and participant-led activity design were critical in creating safe pathways for women to reconnect with their communities, build confidence, and discover their capacity to contribute.

Explore the Volunteer Management Activity

Working together, we can help you foster an inclusive and accessible organisation so anyone can thrive as a volunteer.

Volunteer Management Activity (VMA) VMA Project-Based Grants