To celebrate International Volunteer Day, we shined a light on the some of the people who make our communities stronger: our own staff.
From Townsville to Stanthorpe, Cairns to Ipswich, our employees have quietly contributed more than 1,500 hours of hands-on volunteering over the past financial year (2024-25), supporting causes close to home, heart, and country.
Our commitment goes far beyond corporate partnerships. Alongside our new sponsorship of Volunteering North Queensland and our ongoing Good for Good community grants program, we run a standout Community Volunteer Program, giving every staff member two paid days a year to volunteer for local charities and not-for-profits.
One of our staff members, Mario Romeo (Deeragun Branch Local Manager), was recently honoured with the prestigious Local Legend Award by Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation (IBFF) at their end of year celebration. Queensland Country‘s work with IBFF has had a lasting impact on the young people they’ve mentored, helping them to build brighter futures through guidance, support, and education.
This award is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and passion Mario has shown in supporting local Queensland communities and mentoring the next generation of leaders. It is a tremendous honour to have one of our own recognised for such a meaningful contribution.
With 430 employees, that’s hundreds of extra hands, thousands of hours, and a whole lot of community spirit we invest across Queensland every year.
Our employees contributed over 1,500 hours of local volunteering in 2024–25, supporting causes close to home and heart,” said Queensland Country Bank CEO Aaron Newman, who spent his own volunteer days this year at Ronald McDonald House in Brisbane.
“Some of the places our team has supported include Ronald McDonald House, where Queensland Country is a major partner, as well as charity events across the state, the RSPCA, Queensland Garden Show, Mission Australia, NAIDOC Festival, Ipswich Little Theatre, Beaudesert Show, Lifeblood, Lifeline, and local sporting associations. The list is long, and it brings us enormous pride.
He said volunteering has always been part of the Bank’s DNA.
Community engagement has always been central to Queensland Country Bank. We’re committed to encouraging employees to make a direct and practical difference in the communities where we live and work. Our Community Volunteer Leave Program gives employees the chance to understand how not-for-profit organisations operate and to lend practical support.
We recently partnered with Volunteering North Queensland (VNQ). As part of the partnership, the Bank will cover membership fees for all Volunteer Involving Organisations (VIOs) across North Queensland for the entire 2025–26 year, ensuring community groups and charities stay connected to VNQ’s vital training, events, and celebrations without worrying about the cost.
VNQ President Anne Camplin said the support comes at a critical time. “This is such welcome help for our current members, many of whom are feeling the pinch with rising costs,” Ms Camplin said.
To have a major local business like Queensland Country Bank step up and support the volunteers who hold our communities together really means a lot. It was a hard call to introduce paid memberships this year, but it was the right one, we needed to keep delivering training, events, and ongoing support. The demand for volunteers is stronger than ever. This year alone we’ve referred more than 800 volunteers, and that number keeps growing.