Volunteers of Boroondara is a collection of stories highlighting the unique contribution volunteers make to our community. The stories reveal their motivations, what it means to participate to their community and why they encourage others to take up a volunteer role.
A young migrant’s volunteer story – Erwen Ni
Watch a 3-minute video where Erwen shares how volunteering has enriched his life as a young person, how his migrant background inspired him to become a volunteer tutor and how his life experiences have helped him in this role. 'It’s one of the most rewarding things you can ever do in your life,' he says.
We asked Erwen:
- What is it like to volunteer as a young migrant?
- What do you enjoy about volunteering?
- What advice do you have for others?
Volunteering with a disability – Janene Sadhu
Watch a 3-minute video where Janene shares her experiences as a volunteer with disability, including how she has felt supported by her organisation and what it means to enhance the lives and wellbeing of others through volunteering.
'I get a good fuzzy feeling,' says Janene, who volunteers with Blind Sports. 'I just like to see people doing things they enjoy and participating in programs that enhance their life and wellbeing.'
We asked Janene:
- What is it like to volunteer with a disability?
- What do you enjoy about volunteering?
- What has volunteering brought to your life?
- What advice do you have for others?
A culturally diverse volunteer experience – Mikiko Baker
Miki started as a student and now volunteers at her local neighbourhood house. In this short video, she shares what volunteering for the community has brought to her life as a person from a migrant background. 'It’s quite fun and a lot of people are actually interested to know your background and it’s a great ice breaker to talk about those things', says Mikiko.
We asked Mikiko:
- How did you become a volunteer?
- What do you enjoy about volunteering?
- What advice do you have for others?
Volunteering in the LGBTQIA+ community – Gordon Campbell
Watch this short video where Gordon shares the impact he has been able to have as a volunteer, and how his LGBTQIA+ identity has helped inform his role and had a positive influence on his life and wellbeing.
'We often forget in talking about volunteering that it is very good for people who receive your volunteering work, but it is very good for you, too', shares Gordon.
We asked Gordon:
- How did you become a volunteer?
- What has volunteering brought to your life?
- What do you enjoy about volunteering?
- What is it like to volunteer in the LGBTQIA+ community?
- What advice do you have for others?
Volunteer board member – Craig Ng
Craig is a volunteer board member for the Office of the Public Advocate’s Community Visitors Program. Craig represents the community visitors who visit people with disability in their homes. He oversees the training of volunteer visitors and liaises with them regularly to identify any issues that can be raised to the Victorian Parliament.
Watch this 4-minute video where Craig talks about his role as a volunteer board member, the time commitment and skills required.
We asked Craig:
- What does being a Board Member involve?
- How do you find time to volunteer?
- What are the benefits of volunteering?
- What training is provided to do your volunteer role?
- What skills do you need to volunteer?
Volunteer peer support – Vicky Chen
Vicky volunteers for the Chinese Peer Connection Program (EACH) and provides over-the-phone support to those affected by gambling-related harm, including family members and friends of those impacted.
Watch a 3-minute video of Vicky talking about what her volunteer support role involves, the training she received and how she manages her time.
We asked Vicky:
- What does being a Peer Support Worker involve?
- What do you learn from volunteering?
- How do you find time to volunteer?
- What do you get out of volunteering?
Technical volunteer – Adam Trudgen
Volunteer, Solve Disability Solutions
I feel the technology I make helps by giving people extra freedom in life and reduces the impact that a disability brings.
By day, Adam works as an electrician. By evening, Adam uses his skills as a technical volunteer, creating modified equipment for Boroondara residents living with a disability. Over the last seven years, Adam has used his qualification as an electrician and experience in electronic design and automation, to create custom made assistive technology devices, including a wheelchair friendly mini-golf putter, modified cutlery, a foot controlled camera shutter and even a fully robotic pool cue arm.
His volunteer work supports the mission of Solve Disability Solutions, an organisation that provides Occupational Therapy (OT) and custom Assistive Technology (AT) services for people living with a disability or chronic illness.
With the assistance of an occupational therapist, Adam meets with clients and then spends time researching, designing, and developing a prototype to test, then fine-tunes the device until it meets the client’s needs and is safe and fit for purpose.
“I enjoy the challenge of solving problems and working with the client to create exactly what is needed,” Adam said.
For Adam, helping people with a disability achieve independence is key. Using his technical expertise, he enables people in the community to participate in leisure activities or complete everyday tasks that would otherwise not be possible.
Adam encourages others in the community to share their time and skills as well. “Volunteering is a very rewarding activity and definitely deserves making time for,” said Adam.
Museum volunteer – Susan Wright-Jones
Volunteer, Villa Alba Museum
Volunteering at Villa Alba Museum has been my long standing passionate community commitment.
Susan’s volunteer story began 25 years ago, after reading a story in a newspaper about the discovery of hidden paintings at Villa Alba Museum. From that moment, Susan knew she wanted to be involved, and has been volunteering ever since.
Susan assists with the museum’s monthly open days where she welcomes visitors, leads tours and looks after the decorated finishes of the house to preserve the conservation process. Susan also helps in the garden.
“When I volunteer at Villa Alba Museum I feel a proud sense that I am helping save a significant piece of Melbourne history and share its beauty with the community,” said Susan.
Susan wants to see more of the artworks on the walls uncovered and more of the garden restored and recognises that without volunteers like her it will not be possible.
“I feel that my impact in the community is to help raise awareness of the importance of Villa Alba as one of our hidden treasures of Melbourne. So many historic homes and their stories have been demolished and lost”.
Susan encourages others to keep an open mind when exploring volunteer roles. While specialised skills can be valuable, a positive can-do attitude is the most desirable attribute: “you are not expected to be a historian or decorative arts expert, just have a passion to join and be part of a team!” said Susan.
Men's Shed volunteer – Dominic Boffa
Volunteer, Hawthorn Men’s Shed
Volunteering has given me the opportunity to make new friendships and have a different outlook on life.
Dominic didn’t plan on taking up a volunteer role, the opportunity found him.
Last year, Dominic went to register as a member at the Hawthorn Men’s Shed but after learning about their volunteer program, decided to sign up as a volunteer instead.
Dominic plays a key role in the Men’s Shed operation, volunteering his time to encourage social connection through woodworking. Dominic provides technical and practical support for members of the Men’s Shed, which includes safe use of tools and machinery and providing practical advice on how to perform tasks. He also uses his own van to collect and drop off materials, including recycled wood, for participants to use in their projects.
Dominic feels that by volunteering he is “helping and assisting Shed members to enjoy a sense of achievement and belonging and providing companionship and conversation with clients who may be feeling isolated and lonely”.
Dominic’s volunteer role has not only had a profound impact on the Hawthorn Men’s Shed community, but also on him. Since volunteering, Dominic has a renewed purpose in life and he is grateful that he can assist others whilst also developing his skills and friendships.
“(I have a real) sense of achievement and giving back to the community,” said Dominic.
Meals volunteer – Bronwyn Billimoria
Volunteer, Boroondara Cooks
I find volunteering a really important role to undertake as it connects you with the wider community and allows you to share some of your skills and time beyond your own family and friends.
When Bronwyn isn’t dividing time between family and work as a speech pathologist, you can find her delivering a home cooked meal as part of her volunteer role with Boroondara Cooks.
Run by the City of Boroondara, the Boroondara Cooks program is a meal-sharing and community-strengthening program, which connects people who like to cook with older residents in the community. Volunteers share an extra portion of their home-cooked meal with an older resident or ‘diner’.
“I was wanting to become more involved in the local community but felt I had limited time to be actively involved in a volunteer role with work and a busy family” Bronwyn said. “I thought this was a perfect way for me to be involved in connecting socially and contributing to a community where others were perhaps socially isolated and needed a meal prepared”.
Since volunteering with Boroondara Cooks, Bronwyn has had two diners and finds it easy to prepare a couple of extra serves of her evening meals.
“The visit is not really about the meal but about the social connection and the opportunity to meet and engage with others in your community”, Bronwyn explains. “It has been a wonderful experience and I have found that I have learnt so much and enjoyed spending time with my diners. Their wisdom, calmness and valuable insights into life have been inspirational”.
Photography volunteer – Brandon Kim
Volunteer, Epilepsy Foundation
Volunteering is a very rewarding thing you can do in your daily life, and eventually, you will contribute to changing the whole world with a warm heart and energy!
Brandon was looking for a way to volunteer his professional skills in photography when he came across the Boroondara Volunteer Skills Bank. The wedding and lifestyle photographer registered his specialised skills on the Bank hoping to connect with a community organisation and make a positive impact with this photography and videography skills.
Brandon’s first skilled volunteering opportunity was with the Epilepsy Foundation, an organisation that provides support programs, education and training for people living with epilepsy and their families.
Through his skilled volunteer project, Brandon developed a suite of images, taken from Epilepsy Foundation events and activities, for the organisation to use in celebrating and raising awareness of their organisation.
Volunteering with an organisation with similar values was important for Brandon. “My uncle developed epilepsy so I was very familiar with it,” Brandon said. Giving his time through volunteering was a way for Brandon to support others with similar experiences.
For Brandon, “photography is not just about recording what happened at a certain time of the day. It is more about capturing raw emotions and stories. I … love to deliver the real moments captured and simply share that loving feeling with families or individuals struggling with epilepsy”.
Brandon encourages others to consider how their professional skills can benefit a local community organisation through the Boroondara Volunteer Skills Bank. “It’s the first time that I decided to volunteer and all thanks to lovely people in the Epilepsy Foundation, my first volunteering experience turned out to be amazing!” Brandon said.
Volunteer committee member – Jenine Fleming
Volunteer, Friends of South Surrey Park
It is important to find an opportunity that aligns with your interest and passions and it needs to work with your other commitments.
When Jenine Fleming moved to Surrey Hills, she was inspired to find a way to contribute to the preservation of the parklands behind her home and find a sense of belonging in the community.
It was there that she found the Friends of South Surrey Park and registered as a volunteer and committee member. She plays an important role in the group’s aim to re-establish native plants and create a habitat for birds and animals in the park while it is enjoyed by the community.
Jenine rolls her sleeves up to help out at the regular working bees and has also coordinated the group’s participation in National Tree Planting Day, their biggest community event for the year. As coordinator for this event, Jenine liaises with Council to choose planting sites, organises event promotions and prepares invitations for the Mayor and Councillors and State and Federal ministers. She also supervises logistics on the day.
Jenine recognises the positive impact her work has on the environment but also in the way the group provides a sense of community to the locals.
“The social connections and friendships have been wonderful” said Jenine. “It also provides me with a sense of achievement - contributing to this space for current and future residents and generations. My knowledge of indigenous plants has also increased”.
Jenine found a volunteering opportunity that aligns with her passions and other commitments and encourages others to do the same.
“I have had the privilege of meeting like-minded and very inspiring people,” said Jenine.
Volunteer executive director – Amanda Mandie OAM
Volunteer, Koala Kids Foundation
I love volunteering for the feeling I enjoy of self-satisfaction, seeing my initiatives, enthusiasm and energy benefiting others less fortunate.
Volunteering has been a lifelong commitment for Amanda whose voluntary work has extended across schools, football clubs, community groups and charity organisations.
In 2005, Amanda and her son Nick started Koala Kids Foundation to support children and their families undergoing cancer treatment. The volunteer-driven program provides quality engaging resources and activities for children and young people (from birth to 25 years) and their families.
Amanda remains the fulltime voluntary program director and is also a member of the board, executive, events and volunteer committees and likes to personally interview each prospective volunteer. The organisation engages 390 volunteers and works closely with more than 20 hospitals across Victoria and Tasmania.
“I believe it is a privilege to volunteer… That families let us into their lives at such a stressful time, when their lives feel like they are in free fall, having a child, however old, diagnosed with cancer and undergoing life changing treatment,” said Amanda.
In 2006, Amanda was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and although experiencing very poor mental health in the previous years, once she became medically stable, she has devoted her life to her family, friends and her voluntary work.
“I was unable to return to full time salaried work so in fact created my own job specification with my volunteer work. I feel very privileged to spend my time to benefit my own mental health and the wellbeing of others.”
Amanda encourages others to volunteer “to create challenges for one’s self in a non-professional environment and use one’s professional skills for the advantage of those who are disadvantaged!”
Volunteer driver – Peter Schiller
Volunteer, Boroondara Community Transport
You get a lot back from volunteering and putting something back into the community and it is good for the soul.
Not all heroes wear capes and Peter’s volunteer efforts through the City of Boroondara’s Community Transport team is a true testament to this. Every Monday the humble volunteer picks up local residents who would otherwise be unable to travel to medical appointments, drops them off to their appointment and then takes them home.
Peter’s volunteering began two years earlier, after planning how to spend his retirement. Volunteering and making a meaningful contribution, was a key part of his plan.
“I always had in the back of my mind that when I did retire, I would seek out details from the council about getting involved in the sort of volunteering that I am doing” said Peter.
“The elderly citizens are sometimes surprised that I would put myself out to assist them, but I assure them that I enjoy my volunteering role. I engage them in a bit of social chitchat and I have found they enjoy this as much as I do. The impact my volunteering has on our elderly citizens is profound. They are forever grateful for the assistance and wondering how difficult it would be to get to their appointments without volunteer drivers,” said Peter.
Peter encourages other new retirees to consider how volunteering their time can make a difference in the lives of others.
Peter says, “I would tell someone thinking about volunteering that it is a healthy way to spend some of their time when they retire.”
Community education volunteer – Suni Edgley
Volunteer, Boroondara Neighbourhood Watch
(Volunteering) is a great way to meet people in the community. It’s fun.
Community and safety are two values which Suni holds close, which is why she enjoys her volunteer role in community education with Boroondara Neighbourhood Watch.
The organisation promotes crime prevention to create safer communities by distributing police advice leaflets, participating in events and producing newsletters.
For the last six years, Suni has thrived in her role, which allows her to speak with her community about safety, meet residents at street festivals and events, and distribute information through local letterbox drops.
“I always feel humble in knowing that I’ve passed on the message of volunteering to hopefully support police including other emergency services, and to educate young children to be aware of their surroundings and to learn how to look out for others,” said Suni.
Suni is proud of the important message she delivers through her volunteer role. “Everyone, including children, should feel that they can report something suspicious anonymously without getting into trouble for reporting anything they have seen or heard,” said Suni.
While Suni’s volunteer effort plays an important role in community safety, Suni calls on others to consider how volunteering can help develop new skills and build connection to community.
“[Volunteering] is very rewarding as you are constantly learning new skills and being more aware of what’s happening in the media and in your local area,” said Suni.
Volunteer office administrator – Ruby Chu
Volunteer, Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre
(I have) satisfaction in still using my skills and knowledge to return benefits to the community.
When retirement called, Ruby responded by searching for a volunteering opportunity. It was in her search that she found an administration role with Canterbury Neighbourhood Centre - and leapt at the opportunity.
Ruby was immediately drawn to what the organisation provided the community; courses and activities, further education and opportunities for locals to foster social connection.
'The benefit I get from volunteering is job satisfaction from using the skills and knowledge that I have acquired over the years of working' said Ruby.
In her administrative role, Ruby volunteers her time to take calls and respond to queries, assisting the Centre’s day-to-day operations. Ruby also volunteers as an occasional tutor and will soon be running a class on how to make dumplings.
Ruby relishes in the opportunity to continue using her skills to support her community and enjoys “contributing to a more efficient and inclusive community program.”
Ruby is deeply motivated through a desire to add value for her community, sharing “(volunteering is) payback to the community that has given me so much in my 50 years of living here. I feel that at this time of my life I am not ready to give it all up and I would like to assist in the community.”
When asked what she would say to someone considering volunteering their time, she put it simply: “just do it!”
Volunteer coordinator – Kym Deckart
Volunteer, The Fathering Project
Volunteering offers a non-commercial way of offering something back to your community.
Kym Deckart has always been involved in activities with his children’s school. Two years ago, he became the local coordinator for the Fathering Project, and officially formed the group known as the Dashers (Dads of Ashburton).
Kym feels a close connection with the mission of the Fathering Project, which aims to engage fathers and father-figures with their children through resources, programs and events.
Kym volunteers his time to coordinate events such as ‘Icy Pole’ days, ‘Barefoot Bowls’ and regular Pizza nights that encourage and create an environment for dads and kids to spend quality time together.
“It’s about getting the dads involved with their kids, and trying to create a fathers group, in the same way that mothers’ groups provide support from an early age for mums,” said Kym.
“It’s a great initiative for dads to share their own parenting experiences with one another and offer a community for dads in times of need.”
For Kym, volunteering is an opportunity to share skills in a meaningful and relevant way with the community. “I really enjoy the personal reward and social aspect of supporting community and I have the skills to be the coordinator so I’m happy to offer my help in this area,” said Kym.
“It is both personally rewarding and enriching to participate in your local area and give something back to what is a lovely neighbourhood. I would encourage anyone who has the energy and the time to reach out and offer your support to volunteer organisations within your community,” said Kym.