Customer-centricity through volunteering: My experience with Outback Links

Last week, I joined a fantastic group of NRMA staff for a trip to Cobargo, NSW, where we volunteered through the Outback Links program.

Outback Links is an amazing non-profit that connects volunteers with remote communities across Australia that are doing it tough. Whether it's caretaking, property maintenance, gardening, or farm support, they give ordinary people a way to lend a hand.

During the Black Summer Bushfires, the members of the Cobargo Co-Operative Society stepped up despite their own personal losses. They provided crucial support, from fuel to fencing supplies for livestock, becoming a vital hub for the community's response.? As weeks passed, CCO continued to lead the charge, distributing donations and using their local knowledge to help those most in need.?

One of our jobs was to tidy up CCO’s community garden, which had been neglected throughout the recovery period. While the physical work was rewarding, the heartfelt conversations with the locals made the biggest impression—on them and on us. I left the experience with a powerful reminder of the long-lasting impact of disaster, especially on vulnerable communities, and how important support is beyond the initial crisis.

If you’d like to donate some of your time, NRMA has partnered with Givit to connect individuals with local communities across Australia, which you can find in our app. If you can, get out there and do something.? Not only will you make a difference in the lives of others, but it’ll make you a more customer-centric leader.?

#OutbackLinks