The Big Lift is a non-profit community service project which launched at UTS in 2010. The first trip ran over eight days, during mid-year break. Forty UTS students travelled by bus through NSW and Queensland, stopping in six towns to help under-resourced community organisations. Working alongside locals, the group engaged in projects such as land restoration, construction and gardening. Sleeping in halls, cooking together and making plenty of friends along the way, the group worked to make a significant impact on regional communities. At the same time, the communities had a significant impact on the group by teaching them the value of teamwork, perseverance and patience. Our aim is to make a meaningful impact through the work we do and have a lasting effect on the people we meet. We won't have long in each community, but forty people have the ability to make a big impact in a small amount of time. Each experience along the way will provide the opportunity to use initiative, collaborate as a team and build on leadership qualities. We've also expanded to include two buses as part of the annual trip in July. To find out more or to apply, please visit our website.