I'm Gordon Campbell. I found out about Thorne Harbour Health when it was called Victorian AIDS Council, and currently I am a carer in the community support area.

How did you become a volunteer?

As a gay man in the '80s and '90s, I was aware of what was then called Victorian AIDS Council, and we were aware that they looked after people who'd become HIV positive. By 1994, I'd finished my part-time study of my masters, so I had some time. And also, I thought I'd been very, very self-focused, but it's time to defocus on myself and see if I can help somebody else.

What has volunteering brought to your life?

My volunteering role with Thorne Harbour Health in the queer community has made me much more aware of the very wide spectrum that the queer community includes, and also the many organisations, both NGOs, volunteer, grassroots, and government institutions that are involved in the caring for people in the queer community.

What do you enjoy about volunteering?

You meet a lot of very, very kind people because they're in a caring role and very interesting people. And I think the other thing I have enjoyed is helping people and seeing that you've helped people with their lives. 

What is it like to volunteer in the LGBTQIA+ community?

It really does feel like coming home. Suddenly you're not some odd man out. You're part of the mainstream, and that in itself is like a therapy.

What advice do you have for others?

I think if you're part of the queer community, you would feel very at home with a lot of the volunteering. And I think that you would feel good about yourself by giving to others. And I think that we often forget, in talking about volunteering, that it's very good for the people who receive your volunteering work. But it's very good for you too. If young people in the queer community are thinking about volunteering, I'd suggest they go to the Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre and look at the options that are available there. I think that they would be sure to find something that would be a good starting point, that builds on their interests and areas that are of concern to them and would fit their capabilities as a starting point.