Volunteers Give Back to Support Their Community

Volunteering is a meaningful way to support people in local communities and make a real difference to the lives of others. Carinity’s volunteers have a positive impact on the lives of people in residential aged care, schools, community and disability services, and through our chaplaincy.

These dedicated contributors will be acknowledged on International Volunteer Day on December 5.

Rose Tilyard visits the Carinity Clifford House aged care community two days a week, assisting with activities and outings and being company for residents.

Rose knows her way around the place: she worked as a nurse there for 22 years before retiring.

“I have always wanted to volunteer and give back to the community. I have always been interested in elderly people. I’m able to do a whole lot that I didn’t have the time to do when I was nursing,” Rose said.

 
Above: Rose Tilyard is a long-time volunteer at the Carinity Clifford House aged care community; Main: Volunteer chaplain Joanne Foster supports patients at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane.

“I can sit down and have a good talk with the residents, or go for a walk in the garden with them. They are very interesting to talk to as many have had a great life, and we have lots of laughs.”

Sometimes Rose, a Clifford House volunteer for eight years, brings a special visitor: one of her pet dogs.

“I find it very rewarding seeing residents’ faces light up when I walk in the room with a little dog,” Rose said.

Through her volunteer role with Carinity’s Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy ministry, Melody Fawssett has visited a Queensland correctional centre once a week for the past two years.

“I really wanted to be involved in some sort of evangelistic work, and the idea of prison chaplaincy popped into my head,” Melody said.

Melody says while prisons are a “vicious spiritual battle ground”, she relishes supporting people in prison “with the compassion of Jesus”.

“I love having one-on-one conversations with the women, both at a deep, spiritual level, but also just generally getting to know them,” she said.

“The biggest challenges for me are seeing the pain that some women are in, and the difficulty of their circumstances.

“Women particularly love to talk as a way to debrief, and process what has happened to them. We need to listen to them, and let them tell their stories.”

For volunteer chaplain Joanne Foster, supporting patients at the Wesley Hospital in Brisbane for almost 15 years has been a “privilege”.

“I love to meet new people and seek to bring God’s care, love and compassion to each individual,” Joanne said.

“I think it's always a challenge to listen on two levels: to the person and what they're really saying or meaning, and to God and what he's do wanting to do in their lives.

“We get to spend a short time partnering with God in his beautiful, mysterious, loving and compassionate work. It is a privilege to be available to him and be a channel and witness to the way he touches and intervenes in people’s lives.”

Carinity is welcoming prospective volunteers in Boonah, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Ipswich, Laidley, Rockhampton, Toogoolawah, Toowoomba and Townsville.

Anyone interested in volunteering with Carinity can find more information at www.carinity.org.au/volunteer.

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