Giving to Create Change
18 May 2015 at 10:10 am
National Volunteer Week saw countless organisations celebrate the tireless work of those people that give their time and energy to different causes. To celebrate this week, Pro Bono Australia is featuring two volunteers from the Mission Australia Centre in Surry Hills.
Kendall Reid and Jane Mundy volunteer in different roles, but both women said they enjoy being able to make a difference in people's lives.
The women shared with Pro Bono Australia News what it is that makes them give more than they receive.
Kendall Reid
What is your current volunteering role?
I’m a Learning Partner at Mission Australia.
What drew you to the Not for Profit sector?
An opportunity to contribute to my community. A belief that education is key to improving society. Affiliating with the ways Mission Australia operates. A desire to work in the Philanthropic sector.
I am continuously impressed by the Catalyst Clemente program and the results achieved by the people in the program and so I am compelled to keep coming back.
What do you like best about your current volunteering role?
The people are great. Education is the answer to many of society’s problems in my view – this program helps me to facilitate this.
[I have a] special interest in the humanities/liberal arts and confidence in the benefits of their learning outcomes. Results are visible and measurable – it is great to see the progress these guys make.
Opportunities for me to also learn from the people and the curriculum.
I consider my greatest achievement to be …
I studied International Law and Politics at Oxford which was a dream of mine.
Favourite saying …
Laugh often, live well, love much.
What are you reading/watching/listening to at the moment? Why?
Reading Don Quixote – I’m trying to get through as many classics as possible
Watching House of Cards – I don’t watch much TV but I love politics and this is very interesting.
Through your work, what is your ultimate dream?
To have a Corporate Social Responsibility/Sustainability Consultancy advising medium to large companies on ways to improve their CSR/Sustainability outcomes.
My greatest challenge is …
Fitting everything in. There is so much in life I want to achieve and see. I am constantly battling time.
Where do you feel your passion for good came from?
Parents, literature and career. Mainly my parents. I have studied sociology and psychology and feel that education is the way to help the most disadvantaged in society. I feel as someone very fortunate that the least I can do is to assist in this process.
My parents have a very strong moral compass and I feel I have hopefully inherited this.
Jane Mundy
What is your current volunteering role?
Counsellor at Mission Australia Centre for Homeless Men in Surry Hills.
How long have you been volunteering?
For many years across a number of roles. Since January 2011 with MAC.
What was your first volunteering role?
Court support worker with Hornsby Women’s Domestic Violence Support.
What is the most rewarding part of your role?
Feeling that I have given some men, who may never have had this before, the opportunity to tell their stories and to be listened to.
What is the most challenging part of your role?
The very demanding nature of the clientele who have drug and alcohol and mental health issues.
What do you like best about your current role?
Being part of a team that helps support clients at a very vulnerable time in their lives.
What does a typical day involve?
Usually seeing 4 to 5 clients for individual counselling for one hour each. Also writing up case notes and reports; responding to crises; liaising with other team members.
What inspires you?
Other members of the MAC team who work tirelessly and have great wisdom, experience and humour.
