“The thing is, I might give a fair bit, but I get just as much back,” long-time Anglicare Victoria volunteer Martyn said with a smile.
Martyn, who recently turned 80, has been volunteering with the Get Out for Good post-prison release program for over a decade, and was one of the inaugural volunteers at St Mark’s Community drop-in Centre for houseless people – over 22 years ago.
“As you can imagine, after that long, I’ve got a few friends up there amongst the clientele. So there’s a lot of fun in it for me too,” he said.
Dozens of Anglicare Victoria programs across the state, from emergency relief to education settings and beyond, are supported with the generous help of volunteers.
Get Out for Good coordinator Cathrine Muston said that volunteers were choosing to spend their time alongside vulnerable communities was often powerful in breaking down barriers with clients.
“Participants say, ‘you’re not getting paid to be here, you’ve chosen to spend time with me?’ And that really means something to them,” she said.
“The support services clients come into contact with are often required to take notes on what they say and report it to someone higher up. They sometimes struggle to make appointments because there’s so many to keep up with. But our volunteers are just there to listen and talk.
“Our volunteers help people feel like there is a place for them in our community. Because there is.”
Life-changing connections
When Anglicare Victoria Homelessness services team leader Jack made his way off the 86 tram on Smith Street on a clear morning five years ago, he didn’t know the journey would be life-changing.
“I almost didn’t come to the volunteering meeting in Fitzroy. But I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if I hadn’t come,” he said.
“Volunteering helped me contextualise these problems I was reading about, that I cared about and was passionate about. It helped me realise where I could be of use in a tangible way.”
Anglicare Victoria volunteers come from all walks of life and varying degrees of experience. Some are students looking for work experience, some – like Martyn – are retired and wanting to give back. Others might fit in a few hours a week between other commitments.
“It’s a fantastic experience for students, especially if you’re looking to get a good sense of the sector and better understanding of the issues of homelessness and housing,” Jack said.
“Doing food distribution at St Mark’s, you have a lot of one-on-one exposure to people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity as you’re either in the deli, or on reception, greeting people and triaging client needs.
“You’ll be surprised how quickly you build that rapport and connection with people who need it.”
If you can lend a hand to those in need, even for a short while, please get in touch on 1800 809 722.
