The Big Lift

Supporting regional communities across Australia, one trip at a time.

Who We Are

The Big Lift is a student-run volunteering organisation at The University of Technology Sydney. Founded in 2010 on the philosophy of 'paying it forward', we provide a platform for students to volunteer and engage deeply with local and regional communities.

Get Involved

Girl shovels dirt into the ground

The Winter Trip

Every July, The Big Lift takes 80 UTS students on a 9 day bus trip through regional Australia. We visit regional towns to help them with projects such as land restoration, construction and painting.

Students grouped together in front of Portland Central School

More Events

Throughout the year, The Big Lift runs on and off campus Pay it Forward initiatives. This includes Pay It Forward week, environmental conservation and more. See our Instagram or Facebook page for upcoming events!

Man holding shovel with flowers in the background

Little Lifts

Little Lifts are weekend volunteering trips to regional towns in NSW. They have the same foundational focus as the flagship trip in July, however, students stay in a single town for two nights.

Communications Internship

Every year, The Big Lift collaborates with UTS Society of Communications to invite two student videographers and journalists to apply for the task of capturing the spectacular Winter Trip.

💙 Service Project Alert 🤍 ❣️ Please note that this service project is only open for women aligned volunteers❣️ We’re wrapping up with the final service project of the year! TBL will be volunteering at the WASH House, “a centre dedic
💙 Service Project Alert 🤍 ❣️ Please note that this service project is only open for women aligned volunteers❣️ We’re wrapping up with the final service project of the year! TBL will be volunteering at the WASH House, “a centre dedicated to improving the quality of life and wellbeing of women and girls in the local community by reducing the impact of poverty, social disadvantage and violence on their lives” - The WASH House 🗓️ Thursday 5th December ⏰ 9am-2pm 📍 The WASH House, Mount Druitt (Lot 5 Kelly Cl) 🔗 Sign up via link in bio
⬅️ Throwback to Woodstock Show in September 💛 @woodstockvillagensw Our lifters helped in manning the gates and ticketing for the showgoers, and during their free time got the chance to see some 🪵 woodchopping,🐑 sheep shearing, goodie stalls, go on carriage rides and so much more 🥳 We were so happy to be back for the third time and to be so warmly received yet again by Alison and the Woodstock Community! 🙌 🚐 (The first time on a Little Lift in 2022, then at the Woodstock Show in 2023 and back again in 2024) Thank you again 💙 Shoutout to our CREW Connor H, Yuvi and Laura for organising this amazing weekend 🥰 #woodstockshow
Thank you to @her_village_foundation and our lifters 💙🤍 We were so grateful to be part of the Village Championship and had such a fun day listening to the speeches, musical performances, watching the football match (woohoo go girls!! ) ❤️🤍 and ex
Thank you to @her_village_foundation and our lifters 💙🤍 We were so grateful to be part of the Village Championship and had such a fun day listening to the speeches, musical performances, watching the football match (woohoo go girls!! ) ❤️🤍 and experiencing culture through food and art. Shout out to our CREW Laura 🥰 for running this service project and being in contact with the most lovely Village Championship organisers ✊
‼️ THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED‼️ We apologise for the inconvenience, members who have bought a ticket will receive a refund 🏐 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLEEEE ⚡️ Our long-awaited dodgeball tournament is finally here! Don your sports jerseys 🎽 a
‼️ THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED‼️ We apologise for the inconvenience, members who have bought a ticket will receive a refund 🏐 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLEEEE ⚡️ Our long-awaited dodgeball tournament is finally here! Don your sports jerseys 🎽 and slip on our socks in an ultimate dodgeball tournament against UTS Red Cross Society❣️ 🗓️ Tuesday 29th October ⏰ 12-2.30pm 📍 Ross Milbourne Sports Hall UTS (Building 4) 🔗 $2 Ticket Link in bio!
What a weekend at Glen Davis with the Little Lifters! 🌿✨ We planted trees and spruced up some gardens. The best part? The laughs and coming together as a team 💙 We didn’t just work hard; we connected with the land and the amazing people in
What a weekend at Glen Davis with the Little Lifters! 🌿✨ We planted trees and spruced up some gardens. The best part? The laughs and coming together as a team 💙 We didn’t just work hard; we connected with the land and the amazing people in the community. Huge thanks to the town of Glen Davis, Capertee Valley Landcare, our TBLifters 💪, and our incredible CROPS team for making it all happen! Feeling proud of what we achieved and excited for the next one! 🌱✨ #littlelift #thebiglift
Throwback to the Microlift at Tallong Apple Day 🍎 @tallongappledayfestival Two weeks ago our Lifters volunteered at Tallong and joined in celebrating the regions’ rich orchard history. Full of music, stalls, rides, good food and good vibes
Throwback to the Microlift at Tallong Apple Day 🍎 @tallongappledayfestival Two weeks ago our Lifters volunteered at Tallong and joined in celebrating the regions’ rich orchard history. Full of music, stalls, rides, good food and good vibes - some of our highlights were the pigracing competition 🐷 and the delicous apple pie 🥧 Tallong Community held such a wonderful event and we all had such a blast! 📸: Our Lifters holding the iconic Tallong Big Apple on the Jim Watling Walk
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held: 🗓️: Monday 21st October ⏰: 6pm-8pm 📍: CB11.04.103 The Annual General Meeting is where we discuss the year’s activities, vote on the constitution and elect new executive members of The Big Lift
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held: 🗓️: Monday 21st October ⏰: 6pm-8pm 📍: CB11.04.103 The Annual General Meeting is where we discuss the year’s activities, vote on the constitution and elect new executive members of The Big Lift Team. All financial members are invited to be part of this process! 💙🤍 Attendance is compulsory for members applying for the CREW position for 2025 - please let us know if you unable to attend. PLEASE NOTE: To apply for Crew Leader, you need to have attended a previous Winter Trip!
SERVICE PROJECT ALERT 💙 ‼️ CAPACITY REACHED, UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL NO LONGER BE TAKING SIGNUPS‼️ TBL is looking for volunteers to help out with the ‘The Village Championship,’ an annual fundraising event held by @her_village_foundation
SERVICE PROJECT ALERT 💙 ‼️ CAPACITY REACHED, UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL NO LONGER BE TAKING SIGNUPS‼️ TBL is looking for volunteers to help out with the ‘The Village Championship,’ an annual fundraising event held by @her_village_foundation “The Village Foundation focuses on uplifting young refugee women within the community, ensuring they are empowered and heard as the leaders of the future.” The Village Championship involves a football match, inspirational speakers, live music, cultural stalls and food trucks all with the goal of raising funds and awareness for the young refugee women in the program. 🗓️ Date: Sunday 27th October ⏰ Time: 10am - 1.30pm or 1.30-5pm (shift allocation) 📍: Pymble Ladies College, Avon Road Pymble, NSW 🔗: Sign up link in bio
Our Little Lifts are back for Semester 2! And we’re excited to announce that there’ll be two running back to back! ⬅️➡️ 🔨 Incase you needed a little refresher: Little Lifts (LL) are our weekend volunteering trips to regional towns in N
Our Little Lifts are back for Semester 2! And we’re excited to announce that there’ll be two running back to back! ⬅️➡️ 🔨 Incase you needed a little refresher: Little Lifts (LL) are our weekend volunteering trips to regional towns in NSW. You'll stay in one town for two nights, volunteering with the community and completing 12 hours of service projects. A two-night stay has the valuable benefit of allowing closer engagement with communities and more time to work on service projects. These range from gardening, cleaning, painting and many more! 🌱 LL Bletchington Friday 4th to Sunday 6th October (During STUVAC) 🌱 LL Glen Davis Friday 11th to Sunday 13th October 💰 Cost: $95 + $5 TBL Membership incl. transport, accomodation, food and a TBL T-Shirt for the entire weekend! 🔗APPLICATION LINK IN BIO ❗Closes Tuesday 24th September 11:59PM❗
🍏🚐 Ready for another Microlift adventure? We’re heading back to Tallong to lend a hand at their annual Apple Festival! 🍎🌳 Join us for an amazing day filled with fun and volunteering 🥰✨ If you haven’t been on a Microlift before, it&r
🍏🚐 Ready for another Microlift adventure? We’re heading back to Tallong to lend a hand at their annual Apple Festival! 🍎🌳 Join us for an amazing day filled with fun and volunteering 🥰✨ If you haven’t been on a Microlift before, it’s the perfect way to get out of the city, connect with new people, and make a real difference in the community! 🚨 Applications close in just a few days, so don’t miss out! Hit the link in our bio and secure your spot before it’s too late! 🚨 📅 When: Sunday, 29 September
📍 Where: Meet up at Alumni Green at 7:00am sharp
💰 Cost: $35 (covers transport and food)
Throwback to our 2023 PIFW Cruise!! 💙 Our favourite memories full of dancing, food, fun and good vibes all around 🥳💃🕺 SO DON’T MISS OUT THIS 2024 PIFW CRUISE 🛥️ ‼️TICKET SALES END TONIGHT 11:59PM (26TH AUG)‼️ 🎟️ TICKET LINK IN BIO🔗 $9
Throwback to our 2023 PIFW Cruise!! 💙 Our favourite memories full of dancing, food, fun and good vibes all around 🥳💃🕺 SO DON’T MISS OUT THIS 2024 PIFW CRUISE 🛥️ ‼️TICKET SALES END TONIGHT 11:59PM (26TH AUG)‼️ 🎟️ TICKET LINK IN BIO🔗 $95 for members $100 for non-members Shoutout to one of @utsphotosoc photographers for capturing this event!! 🥰
💙 PAY IT FORWARD WEEK STARTS TOMORROW Get involved with all things social, fundraising and volunteering with us. A percentage of profits will be going towards a charity/non- profit organisation ☺️ 🎟️ Events Ticket Pricing 🎟️ 🔗 ALL EVENT TICK
💙 PAY IT FORWARD WEEK STARTS TOMORROW Get involved with all things social, fundraising and volunteering with us. A percentage of profits will be going towards a charity/non- profit organisation ☺️ 🎟️ Events Ticket Pricing 🎟️ 🔗 ALL EVENT TICKETS AVAILABLE IN BIO 🧵 Crafts Night: $5 🏆 TBL x EWB Competition Night: $2 🎥 Movie Night: $5 🛳️ PIFW Cruise: $95 (TICKET SALE END TONIGHT 11:59PM) 🌱Hope to see you at our events 🥳
🚨 ALERT ALERT ALERT 🚨 PIFW CRUISE tickets end this SUNDAY 25th August at 11:59PM so DON’T MISS OUT on: 🍹Unlimited Drinks at the Open Bar—because we’re here to make waves! 🍽️ A Bountiful Buffet to keep your crew well-fed. 🎶
🚨 ALERT ALERT ALERT 🚨 PIFW CRUISE tickets end this SUNDAY 25th August at 11:59PM so DON’T MISS OUT on: 🍹Unlimited Drinks at the Open Bar—because we’re here to make waves! 🍽️ A Bountiful Buffet to keep your crew well-fed. 🎶 A DJ to help us dance the night away—let’s get this ship rockin’! ⭐️And, of course, some treasured company! 🤗 🍸 Dress Code: Cocktail attire (Arrr matey, dress to impress!) 🎟️ Pricing: Members: $95 (A steal of a deal!) Non-Members: $100 (Also a steal of a deal!) 🔗 TICKET LINK IN BIO We’re throwing out a lifeline to all friends, family, and significant others who want to join our adventure on the high seas. Don’t let this ship sail without you! Anchors aweigh! 🏴‍☠️
Missed your breakfast because you were in a rush? ☕ Keen for that SuGaR rush that gets you energised? 🍩 Look no further because we'll be serving up a storm. Just pop in and pick whatever brekkie item you would like and pay on the spot, how easy is
Missed your breakfast because you were in a rush? ☕ Keen for that SuGaR rush that gets you energised? 🍩 Look no further because we'll be serving up a storm. Just pop in and pick whatever brekkie item you would like and pay on the spot, how easy is that? 🥐 🗓Thursday 29th August ⏰ 8.30am-11.30am 📍 Student Learning Hub Grab n goooooo!
Here for the cosy night vibes? Don’t worry, we gotchu we gotchu. 🎥 Our PIFW Movie Night on Thursday 29th August from 5pm will be featuring all that and more 🥳 With your $5 entry ticket you’ll be provided with popcorn 🍿 and a non-alcoholic drink 🧃 Tickets released soon!! 🎟️ We have some movie ideas in mind 🧠 but we want YOUR input. Comment below some of the most wholesomest, cutest, TBL-esque movies you know and maybe, just maybe, we’ll show it on the night 👀
‼️ PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO A FUTURE DATE - WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE THIS DURING PAY IT FORWARD WEEK‼️ 🏐 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLEEEE ⚡️ A thrilling PIFW event where we’ll don our sports jerseys 🎽 and slip on our slick sock
‼️ PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO A FUTURE DATE - WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE THIS DURING PAY IT FORWARD WEEK‼️ 🏐 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLEEEE ⚡️ A thrilling PIFW event where we’ll don our sports jerseys 🎽 and slip on our slick socks in an ultimate dodgeball tournament against UTS Red Cross ❣️
💙 Service Project Alert 🤍 ❣️ Please note that this service project is only open for women aligned volunteers❣️ We’re wrapping up with the final service project of the year! TBL will be volunteering at the WASH House, “a centre dedic
⬅️ Throwback to Woodstock Show in September 💛 @woodstockvillagensw Our lifters helped in manning the gates and ticketing for the showgoers, and during their free time got the chance to see some 🪵 woodchopping,🐑 sheep shearing, goodie stalls, go
Thank you to @her_village_foundation and our lifters 💙🤍 We were so grateful to be part of the Village Championship and had such a fun day listening to the speeches, musical performances, watching the football match (woohoo go girls!! ) ❤️🤍 and ex ‼️ THIS EVENT HAS NOW BEEN CANCELLED‼️ We apologise for the inconvenience, members who have bought a ticket will receive a refund 🏐 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLEEEE ⚡️ Our long-awaited dodgeball tournament is finally here! Don your sports jerseys 🎽 a What a weekend at Glen Davis with the Little Lifters! 🌿✨ We planted trees and spruced up some gardens. The best part? The laughs and coming together as a team 💙 We didn’t just work hard; we connected with the land and the amazing people in Throwback to the Microlift at Tallong Apple Day 🍎 @tallongappledayfestival Two weeks ago our Lifters volunteered at Tallong and joined in celebrating the regions’ rich orchard history. Full of music, stalls, rides, good food and good vibes Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held: 🗓️: Monday 21st October ⏰: 6pm-8pm 📍: CB11.04.103 The Annual General Meeting is where we discuss the year’s activities, vote on the constitution and elect new executive members of The Big Lift SERVICE PROJECT ALERT 💙 ‼️ CAPACITY REACHED, UNFORTUNATELY WE WILL NO LONGER BE TAKING SIGNUPS‼️ TBL is looking for volunteers to help out with the ‘The Village Championship,’ an annual fundraising event held by @her_village_foundation Our Little Lifts are back for Semester 2! And we’re excited to announce that there’ll be two running back to back! ⬅️➡️ 🔨 Incase you needed a little refresher: Little Lifts (LL) are our weekend volunteering trips to regional towns in N 🍏🚐 Ready for another Microlift adventure? We’re heading back to Tallong to lend a hand at their annual Apple Festival! 🍎🌳 Join us for an amazing day filled with fun and volunteering 🥰✨ If you haven’t been on a Microlift before, it&r Throwback to our 2023 PIFW Cruise!! 💙 Our favourite memories full of dancing, food, fun and good vibes all around 🥳💃🕺 SO DON’T MISS OUT THIS 2024 PIFW CRUISE 🛥️ ‼️TICKET SALES END TONIGHT 11:59PM (26TH AUG)‼️ 🎟️ TICKET LINK IN BIO🔗 $9 💙 PAY IT FORWARD WEEK STARTS TOMORROW Get involved with all things social, fundraising and volunteering with us. A percentage of profits will be going towards a charity/non- profit organisation ☺️ 🎟️ Events Ticket Pricing 🎟️ 🔗 ALL EVENT TICK 🚨 ALERT ALERT ALERT 🚨 PIFW CRUISE tickets end this SUNDAY 25th August at 11:59PM so DON’T MISS OUT on: 🍹Unlimited Drinks at the Open Bar—because we’re here to make waves! 🍽️ A Bountiful Buffet to keep your crew well-fed. 🎶 Missed your breakfast because you were in a rush? ☕ Keen for that SuGaR rush that gets you energised? 🍩 Look no further because we'll be serving up a storm. Just pop in and pick whatever brekkie item you would like and pay on the spot, how easy is
Here for the cosy night vibes? Don’t worry, we gotchu we gotchu. 🎥 Our PIFW Movie Night on Thursday 29th August from 5pm will be featuring all that and more 🥳 With your $5 entry ticket you’ll be provided with popcorn 🍿 and a non-alcoho
‼️ PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO A FUTURE DATE - WE WILL NO LONGER HAVE THIS DURING PAY IT FORWARD WEEK‼️ 🏐 ARE YOU READY TO RUMBLEEEE ⚡️ A thrilling PIFW event where we’ll don our sports jerseys 🎽 and slip on our slick sock

Testimonials

  • ‘Thank you for everything you did for us. It was a great boost to projects that were taking too long to get started. Please keep up the good work you do in small country towns’

    Dunedoo, 2019

  • It's up to the community to keep this lane looking attractive for visitors and all the school children... but it's very hard to get volunteers at the moment, people are so caught up in their own private activities... so it's up to grandparents like myself and retired people. [The Big Lift] is such a worthwhile thing to do.

    Milthorpe, 2022

  • These projects don’t happen without this heavy lifting, and on this occasion you’re the ones getting involved in it, which is marvellous. I just think it’s incredible and one day, someday, you may be back.

    Gulargambone, 2022

  • We see in a lot of places...that the government is prepared to give money for things... but they don’t last. It’s having a group like you guys come that affects the place more than throwing a bucket of money at us. And I think... what you guys have given up to come here — this is your holiday isn’t it? I think that’s a great witness to people. It’s different, what you’re doing. And I think that’s awesome.

    Boggabilla, 2022

  • Thank you to you and your team for a fabulous weekend... We really meant it when we said you guys are welcome any time at all.

    Lue, 2022

Contact Us

For all inquiries including those related to our events, volunteer initiatives and current volunteering capabilities please fill out our Contact Us form. If you would like to suggest an event please click here.