TLG’s Impact on Its Incredible Volunteers.

In pursuit of achieving TLG’s mission of minimising and eventually removing the barriers faced by regional and remote students in Australia, we aim to positively impact the lives of students and help them strive for better. However, have you ever wondered how TLG impacts the lives of its volunteers? 

Volunteering with TLG is a one of a kind opportunity which pushes you to develop as an individual both personally and professionally. Across the Rural Programs (RPs) run by TLG in Semester 2 of 2025 and Semester 1 of 2026, 100% of volunteers stated that they would recommend TLG to their friends, whilst 95% felt they had developed skills which would benefit them in the future. RP allows volunteers to not only experience life in beautiful and exciting communities within rural Australia, but actively aids and develops these communities through education. It is an extremely rewarding experience.

Personal Accounts From Current Volunteers

Here are TLG Volunteers Harry Morre, Emily Liu and Brennan Jackson discussing their experiences volunteering with TLG: 

These answers from Harry, Brennan and Emily show just how much they have been able to draw from their time with TLG. Harry discusses how they have been able to develop leadership skills through their time volunteering with TLG both as a co - coordinator of Rural Programs as well as on the Student Executive team. Leadership has been a takeaway for a number of TLG volunteers, with 95% stating that they are more confident to be a leader following RP. These leadership skills are drawn from a variety of experiences that you as a volunteer will gain on rural programs. This includes leading group activities with students and other tutors, the opportunity to coordinate programs, developing communication and inter-personal skills with other volunteers and much more. 

All 3 volunteers interviewed discussed time spent with their students as significant highlights of their experiences with TLG. As Brennan mentioned, positive role models are vital for the students that TLG reaches, and our volunteers have the opportunity to play that role in the student’s lives. Becoming a role model as a volunteer on RP is incredibly fulfilling on a personal level. Brennan highlighted an after school, community-run program for students that TLG volunteers helped with which really stood out to him. It stuck with him that the volunteers were able to have a direct impact on the student’s lives. This led him to become the Education Manager on TLG’s Student Executive Team.

Seeing how students' learning outcomes improve over your time with them is another one of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering with TLG, particularly on a Rural Program. In the video above, Emily mentions a particular occasion where she was able to teach one of her students their nine times tables. She says how rewarding it was for her to find something that clicked for her student, and how enthusiastic her student was once she had finally grasped the concept. Harry also highlighted a time where their co - coordinator was able to assist a profoundly deaf student in developing their math skills. The student was able to go from working at a year 1 math level to a year 6 math level across the week of Rural Program. Specific improvements like this highlight the incredible impact TLG’s one on one tutoring is able to have on the education of their students, as well as the pride this improvement can bring to volunteers. The feeling that you were directly responsible for improving your students' education and minimising the education gap that these rural students experience is incredibly fulfilling.  . 

My Own Experience Volunteering with TLG

My time volunteering with TLG so far is something I am extremely proud of. I feel so privileged to have gained the life experiences I have on my two Rural Programs, and am so excited to continue to work toward helping rural, regional and remote students with the organisation. 

Both of my Rural Programs took me to places within WA, Gnowangerup and Three Springs, which without TLG I would have never thought to visit. In visiting these communities, I was exposed to the realities and the beauties of day to day rural life. In doing so, I found it to be an amazing way to expand my horizons, and felt so lucky to be taking in the differences to my own life in Perth first hand. Meeting people within the community was a real highlight. Every person I met in both Gnowangerup and Three Springs showed so much pride in all the incredible things that their rural town had to offer, and made such an effort to show us these things as visitors. 

Without a doubt, the biggest highlight from my time volunteering with TLG has been tutoring the students. I have found my time with every single student I’ve met on Rural Programs incredibly valuable. Seeing their attitudes and openness toward learning improve over the week of us working together meant so much to me. It brought me so much happiness and pride to know that I was able to have this impact on a student, and it was incredibly gratifying to see how their skills improved over the course of a week of working together. Even simple experiences like running around with the students at recess and lunch, or visiting them during their breakfast club, has stuck with me for a long time since Rural Program.

Following my second Rural Program, I decided to apply for the Student Executive Team at TLG, and have since become a Marketing Officer. Through my time both on RP and on the Marketing Team, I have been able to develop a variety of skills which I have found extremely helpful in all aspects of my life. RP gave me the opportunity to work with other volunteers and tutors to help achieve TLGs mission and help the students as much as possible. In doing so, I feel I’ve really grown in my ability to collaborate and communicate with others to achieve a shared goal. Since I’ve joined the Executive team, it’s become essential that I effectively manage my time so that I am able to balance my work for the marketing team with all the other responsibilities in my life. Understanding how to achieve this balance since I’ve joined has been so helpful in achieving all my goals effectively and promptly. 

Another incredible aspect of volunteering with TLG has been the friendships I’ve developed with people I’ve met volunteering. Spending a week with a group of amazing, like - minded people on RP is an incredible way to grow new friendships. Rural Program provides so many opportunities for fun activities with your fellow volunteers, such as playing games together at night after school, and sightseeing the local community. I have been lucky enough to meet some incredible people on both RPs I’ve been on, as well as the Student Executive Team, and built some truly meaningful friendships thanks to my time with TLG. 

Your Chance to Join TLG’s Volunteering Team! 

With the Summer Rural Program for 2026 right around the corner, you too have the chance to join TLG’s amazing volunteer team!

Applying for Rural Program is an incredible opportunity to develop amazing new skills, experience the delights that rural Australia has to offer, meet incredible new people and help students who really need it. 

New Applications for Summer RP are open until the 15th of September. All in all, it is an amazing and truly fulfilling experience that you can’t miss out on. Apply now!

Written by Noah Poole