Opportunities Come From Unexpected Places

“National Volunteer Week (NVW) is the annual celebration to acknowledge the generous contribution of our nation’s volunteers. At this uncertain time we feel that it is more important than ever to recognise and acknowledge Australia’s volunteers”.

…  spread the message that volunteers around Australia really are Changing Communities. Changing Lives.” Read more

Changing Lives, Contributing to Community

There are many avenues to choose and benefits to volunteering. Not only can you help change lives and make a contribution to community, but you also expand your understanding of the world, benefit from the interactions and the new perspective you can gain and have a sense of satisfaction that you can be making a difference.

Step out of your comfort Zone

Relationships that  I have fostered in my lifetime , have provided opportunities for me to step out of my  everyday comfort zone and volunteer.  These opportunities have helped boost my confidence and be able to meet many interesting people and to be able to mix comfortably in new situations.

I have  had the opportunity  to gain  direct insight into the complicated logistics of managing major events when I worked with a close friend on two major Melbourne events: the Kooyong Classic, a yearly curtain raiser for the Australian Open, and Melbourne Fashion Week. These gave me amazing behind-the-scenes experiences and helped me to further develop my confidence and skills in new situations. Coming into contact with some high profile participants increased my understanding of people. I saw first-hand how many of the tennis players had distinct rituals to help them focus before going on court.  Some players enjoyed having the music pumping full volume as we drove from the hotel to the court, others preferred to travel in silence. Many travelled with an entourage; others alone. This may seem unsurprising, but at the time I knew very little about competitive sport so it was an eye-opening experience to witness people in this context of high pressure and high exposure.

Volunteering Makes A Difference

Some people choose to make an impact  and change lives by  volunteering.

My husband Leigh witnessed his  grandfather help others as a keen volunteer and his mother also gained personal satisfaction from volunteering  to run an art class at a local community centre,   providing  an outing for people who were house bound after illness.  Her husband, my father-in-law,  had had several heart attacks and strokes and his weekly visit to the centre was a highlight of his week.

Leigh  has  volunteered  in various capacities in our community  as our children grew. He  was School Council as President  when our children were small, and was the Co-Ordinator of the local Auskick for many years.  As parents, we both  gained from our volunteering on the various kinder and school committees by broadening our network and circle of friends.  It was also a way to give of our time and keep in touch of what was happening in our community.

In more recent times, Leigh has been a mentor with Fitted for Work, whom Your Time Matters supports, and also volunteers  for Small Business Mentor Service. He also  spent five years on the board of a Bendigo Community Bank, with the last  two years in the role of Chairman.

In the case of Fitted for Work, he knew helping women into the workforce could change lives. He was keen to assist them in developing the necessary skills to be successful when applying for employment.  The Small Business Mentor Service allows him to contribute his knowledge and skill based on his experience of growing up in a small business family, like me, and from his experience in mentoring colleagues within larger corporations.

His involvement  with the Bendigo Community Bank Board began through our personal network, where a mutual friend also on the Board, thought that Leigh would add benefit by bringing his banking and financial discipline to the management of the franchisee services company. 

Leigh  was attracted to the Community Bank model because it is quite extraordinary.  The model sees local shareholders willing to reinvest and support community, and volunteer boards willing to manage a bank and staff with the majority of profits being reinvested in community projects. This is quite unique and has been recognised as such globally.

The Bank  set up the model originally to help local communities to thrive.  Many of the major banks had closed their doors in regional areas, but the community still needed access  to banking.  The virtuous circle of doing business with the Bank and the Bank then being able to invest the profit for purpose into  community  projects was a key driver for Leigh.  

As a volunteer, Leigh says he has benefited from “Networks of likeminded others, interaction with staff and with a diverse community. I have benefited learning from others and particularly how to get things done with and through volunteers which is very different from my corporate experience”.

Volunteer directors in this model need to not only meet their fiduciary responsibilities but also roll up their sleeves and be active in community events. The willingness of people to volunteer their time as well as manage their lives and employment is remarkable really.

Organisations We have Had Exposure To Over The Years

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So, have you thought about volunteering? There are many, many opportunities, and you can no doubt find an organisation that needs your help. However, with all forms of volunteering, here is a time commitment.  Do not let that stop you if you are keen to make an impact in the lives of those around you, as you will also gain more than you expect as it is fulfilling and  rewarding  when you can take great thoughts and ideas to action.

If you would be interested in volunteering some of your time, involve yourself in conversations,   keep your eyes and ears open, have conversations with your friends, connect with your local community  or  check out GoVolunteer HERE .

 

 

 

Kerryn Powell