Our stories

National Volunteer Week – Meet Debbie!

National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering. This year’s theme is ‘Better Together’, and appropriately so, as together we accomplish so much more.

At this time of year, we come together to recognise and celebrate our wonderful volunteers for all the ways they contribute to SHINE for Kids.

To mark National Volunteer Week, we are putting some of our many incredible volunteers in the spotlight, please meet ….  Debbie!

Debbie: RISE Education, Frankston

How long have you been volunteering with SHINE for Kids?

I started volunteering with SHINE for Kids in early 2021.

My role is to mentor students within an educational setting.

What inspired you to apply to volunteer with SHINE for Kids?

I have a background in psychology and have always enjoyed working with children and within educational settings.

Helping children to feel supported and empowered is rewarding and so when I saw this opportunity with SHINE for Kids I felt that it was a perfect fit for me.

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

Volunteering with SHINE for Kids has been great. I love the nature of the volunteering I do. Seeing how enthusiastic the kids are to come to a mentoring session is incredibly rewarding.

I love seeing the children try new activities and seeing how proud they are of their work we do in the sessions. On several occasions I have had mentees ask if they can take their work back to class to show the rest of their peers and teachers.

In addition, the support I receive from the SHINE for Kids team, as well as opportunities to further my learning through webinars and team meetings, is incredible.

I always feel I have someone I can call to discuss any issues or queries.

What impact do you think you have made?

I always try to make our sessions as enjoyable as possible for each child.

This means the sessions are something for the kids to look forward to and consequently they want to come to school.

I hope this helps not only the child, but also the family, and makes everyone’s day a little bit brighter.

What has been your most memorable moment?

My most rewarding moments have been when a teacher tells me how the mentee has been asking all week when our session will be.

Also I love it when the children tell me that our sessions are their favourite part of the week!

While you’re here, we need your help. Our amazing volunteers can only do so much, we also rely on the support and kind donations of the community to continue to run our many programs across NSW, Vic, WA, Qld and the ACT.

It’s only with continued support that we can be there to reach out to and walk beside children and families as they navigate one of the toughest times in their lives. We are changing futures, one child at a time. Evey bit counts. Please donate today. Thank you!