Boroondara Volunteer Skills Bank

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.

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!”

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.