On Friday the 2nd of September, the Lifeskills Work Experience class was lucky enough to have a visit by Frank of the Volunteers of Banyule.
The discussion was friendly, with many questions asked of Frank by the Participants, and a lot of interest shown in what he had to say.
Frank spoke to the group about a lot of the local opportunities to Volunteer, such as:
- Opportunity Shops,
- Blue Cross Animal Shelter,
- Events – like the recent ‘Wellness Walk’ by Olivier Newton John,
- Sporting Clubs – cycling, running, ball sports, pony club,
- Charity groups,
- Libraries,
- Environment Groups – like the Waterways,
- Retirement or Nursing Homes, amongst many others.
Participants also discovered there is the Volunteers of Whittlesea and the Volunteers of Manningham as well, so it’s always a good idea to look in your local area.
Frank, who is a volunteer himself, spoke very highly about the many benefits to Volunteering as a genuine and accessible Work Experience. He explained how there aremany fold benefits, including:
- being exposed to a genuine work-place environment,
- experiencing the discipline and commitment required to successfullyhold a job,
- engaging with other work colleagues,
- travel training,
- knowing the time and work out-put a job requires
- having the increased confidence of achieving
- the enormous benefit to the community and those less fortunate
- the sense of personal pride that only comes from helping others.
It was noted that although Volunteering does not pay, a work experience that offers a token $5 per day is no more valuable than Volunteering – it can’t all be about the $5!!!!!!
Frank is booked to come to Lifeskills to speak with another group of Participants and I would recommend you attend if you can.
Thanks to Frank for taking time out of his busy schedule to visit with us.
