In honour of National Volunteer Week, we are sharing interviews with some of our fantastic volunteers from across the organisation. We are also hosting a Volunteer Expo on Thursday at our East Reservoir health centre to showcase our volunteer program and actively recruit volunteers – we hope you can join us!
Alison (she/her) is a proud Wurundjeri woman and has been Co-Chairing our Kaydo Kertheba Reconciliation Action Plan Working Group. Her insights as both a client and member of the Aboriginal community have been invaluable to the development of our first Reconciliation Action Plan, which will be published mid-year.
How did you start volunteering at Your Community Health?
I have been volunteering at Your Community Health now for roughly a year and a half, but I have been volunteering pretty much all of my life.
Outside of what I do at Your Community Health, I am also on three committees: the LGBTIQA+ Working Group, the Consumer Advisory Committee and the Consumer Engagement Committee for Merri Health.
What kind of volunteering have you done at Your Community Health?
So far, I have been engaged in the Kaydo Kertheba Working Group as Co-Chair. As a Wurundjeri woman, I have seen the barriers and difficulties that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face every day. I wanted to be part of something meaningful that will change the lives of First Nations community members for the better.
I have also done some filming for Your Community Health, which was interesting!
What volunteering accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am super proud to say that Keydo Kertheba has been conditionally endorsed by Reconciliation Australia! The Plan is being finalised and will be published soon. The Working Group has also completed Pillar One of the Reconciliation Action Plan. This is a huge achievement and everyone has done amazing work.
What do you find most rewarding about volunteering?
I love knowing that the things I am working on will help make necessary changes. It is great to know that I bring insights and experiences that some members of the working group would not normally see or hear about.
How do you fit volunteering around your other activities or responsibilities?
I am generally pretty good at managing my time and appointments. My family know that I have periods dedicated to volunteering and they respect that. I am disabled and unable to work, so this gives me time to dedicate to my committees and helping others.
What would you say to encourage someone who is thinking about volunteering?
Volunteering is a very rewarding experience. If this is your very first time volunteering, take things slow to allow yourself to adjust. Find a regular spot in your schedule that you can dedicate to volunteering and only volunteer for a position or area that you truly feel passionate about.
