Shining a light on the role of volunteers

ac.care on the lookout for more helping hands

Volunteers are vital in delivering ac.care’s mission of ensuring all country people have a safe home, enough money to live on and strong, positive relationships. Formed in Mount Gambier 35 years ago, the “country specialist” agency combines the efforts of staff, community partnerships and dedicated volunteers to make a difference in people’s lives.

“We are a community-based agency working with the people around us as part of their community, which shines through in the way volunteers commit to our mission and support us in contributing to improving the lives of country people,” ac.care chief executive Shane Maddocks said.

“It’s National Volunteers Week and we are saying thank you to all our volunteers, who make a wonderful contribution to expanding our capacity to make a difference.”

The agency’s volunteers include close to 200 remarkable individuals, couples and families who share their homes with more than 370 children as foster carers across eastern regional South Australia, supported by ac.care staff.

“These dedicated volunteers, who open their hearts and homes to vulnerable children in need of positive relationships truly transform young lives,” Mr Maddocks said.

“Sadly, we always need more volunteers to accommodate the growing number of children and young people in state care, but are forever grateful for the efforts of our valued network of carers and the commitment they make.”

Volunteers also contribute to ac.care in many ways beyond foster care, with the homelessness programs delivered in Mount Gambier, Millicent, Murray Bridge and Berri backed by a dedicated support team.

ac.care is currently seeking volunteers to support staff in delivering quality services to the community.

Duties include help cleaning emergency accommodation properties and preparing them for the next stay, support and knowledge to deliver digital literacy programs, client transport, collecting donated goods, as well as preparing food and drinks for clients at our community sites.

Do you have specific skills or expertise and the desire and time to support your community? Get in touch to discuss how you could support ac.care.

ac.care is always seeking new and innovative ways to support their clients, on top of the vital service delivery work that benefits from volunteer contributions.

This could include opportunities for social engagement and empowering community members to secure tenancies or invaluable employability skills. “Our volunteers are an instrumental part of the agency and we simply couldn’t provide the range of services, programs and support we do without them,” Mr Maddocks said. Email [email protected], call 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273) or visit accare.org.au if you would like to contribute to the organisation.

BIG HEARTS: Lynette & Jock Muir have spent decades as part of ac.care’s dedicated network of foster carers, which is always in need of more people to provide safety and security for children and young people