In May 2021, I started volunteering at a wildlife animal rescue every Saturday. My normal jobs on a shift include cleaning and raking enclosures, refreshing water, feeding animals, washing dishes, and general tidy up. I have learned a lot about the native Australian wildlife that I wouldn’t have known about if I didn’t start volunteering. I was nervous at first since this was something that was completely new to me and I hadn’t really been around many of these animals.

There are normally several volunteers on each shift. We have to make sure that we are working as a team and communicating efficiently so that everything gets done and there is no confusion about what jobs have already been completed. Generally, we split off into teams and are responsible for all the tasks (cleaning, water, feeding) for the animals in that section.

As I have been at the rescue for over a year, I now supervise and support new volunteers so I can guide them through the sort of things we do each shift. I find my time at the rescue a really great way to remove myself from the pressures of school, and just connect with nature and the animals that I help care for.

For nearly two years, I have been volunteering as a Junior Leader at my local Girl Guide Unit. Each week, I assist in running sessions for the unit. Part of my role includes setting up and packing away, helping the girls with activities, and occasionally running activities.

Through my role as Junior Leader, I have had the opportunity to plan and run a session. I planned a quiz scavenger hunt relating to the badge they were working towards at the time. In my planning, I made a list of all the materials I would need to run the activity and made worksheets to go along with it. Even though the activity finished earlier than expected, I was able to adapt to the situation by getting some feedback to find out what they liked and disliked, and running a few games before the end of the session.

Through this position, I have been able to develop my leadership, public speaking, and organisational skills. I am looking forward to being able to be a role model to others and helping to plan and run activities.

I had the amazing opportunity in 2021 to be an Anglicare Ambassador. Anglicare is a not-for-profit organisation that help people in a time of crisis. They offer 89 services that support people struggling with a range of issues including poverty and homelessness, domestic violence, grief, and mental illness. Through my role, I was able to learn a lot more about what Anglicare does and also plan and run fundraisers to raise money and awareness for the organisation.

Through my role, I had the opportunity to attend a program where I learned about the amazing work that Anglicare does, and a training session. One of my favourite events was the annual Anglicare Sleepout where we partook in a simulation activity and slept rough for the night.

I also had an amazing opportunity later in the year to assist the Year 2’s with packing hygiene packs that would go to people in need. I was also able to be a part of the Morning Street Team where I went to the Salvation Army Cafe and helped with servicing food and coffee to the people who needed it most.

As a group, we also planned and ran our Fundraiser, Anglicare Day. Students were allowed to wear a jumper of their choice for a gold coin donation and there was a sausage sizzle at lunch. For a few weeks before the event, we had a tipping-style fundraiser happening where students could put money in a jar for the teacher they wanted to see have funky hair-sprayed hair.

Overall, this was a really great experience that showed and highlighted to me the struggles that homeless people go through each day, but also how I may be able to help.