Volunteering provides a way of making a difference in people's lives but also opportunities to learn, stay connected and build relationships, according to a group of Mildura volunteers.
The group has been supporting newly arrived migrants and refugees improve their English through conversation sessions as volunteers with AMES Australia. But their impact goes much further as they have effectively become guides and mentors to people settling in Sunraysia and navigating life in a new country. Retired primary school teacher Rose Hoye says volunteering with AMES Australia keeps her mind active and gives her a rewarding opportunity to help refugee families start new lives in Australia.
“I volunteer doing conversation classes with the more advanced English language students at AMES,” Rose said. “I really enjoy it. I get as much out of it as I put in. It keeps my mind active, and I have developed some good relationships. It’s very rewarding and the students are always happy to see you."
“I learn a lot about the students’ cultures and backgrounds. And the more we talk, the more you realise we have so much in common; there are so many similarities and not so many differences… I also learn a lot about the complications of our language and how we use it, especially the use of slang. We in Australia use a lot of slang. Sometimes we don’t realise that, but we do."
Rose says she sees her role as not just teaching English but also helping people to navigate a new society and build new lives in Australia.
“It’s very rewarding to see people build new successful lives here in Mildura,” she said. Rose says she’s inspired by her students’ resilience and enthusiasm. “Many of our students have come from terrible backgrounds. But I love the enthusiasm they show about being here,” Rose said. “They can see, and they are grateful for, the opportunity they have,” she said.
New volunteer Christine Wilson says her experience so far has been “fantastic”. “I’ve only been volunteering for three weeks, but it’s very enjoyable to be able to make a difference in people’s lives,” said Christine, a former school principal who has lived in Mildura for 50 years. “So far, everyone has been friendly and helpful,” she said.
“I also find it very interesting to learn about people’s cultures and stories. I’ve done a lot of travelling but I have not been to the countries most of our students come from. “I’m interested in people and their backgrounds, cultures, the food they eat and how they spend their days. “It’s very rewarding to be able to help people build new lives in a new country.”
Christine says Mildura has always been a welcoming community. “Mildura has always been multicultural, and people here are generally very welcoming. And the newly arrived people we support genuinely want to make a life here. So, my role is not just to help with English, but also help with navigating life in a new country…We talk about things like road rules, where to buy food and the local farmer’s markets."
Christine said volunteering provided her with an opportunity to stay connected and make a contribution. “I would recommend volunteering to anyone who has the time and enthusiasm to do something interesting,” she said.
To find out more about volunteering with AMES Australia, phone: 03 99384206 or email volunteer@ames.net.au