EdConnect Australia was thrilled to host our first Victorian volunteer event at the William Angliss Institute in Melbourne’s CBD on Tuesday 26 March 2024.
The event provided an opportunity for volunteers across all regions to come together to celebrate the end of Term 1, boost their learning with guest speakers and strengthen their connections with fellow volunteers.
The morning kicked off with EdConnect Australia Chairperson, Elena Mogilevski, opening the day and she paid thanks to all EdConnect volunteers for their support and time to change the lives of students in the classroom and as mentors.
EdConnect Australia CEO Michael Pailthorpe provided an organisational update and shared the impact of the program from 2023.
He called on all volunteers to continue to promote EdConnect to their family, friends and networks to help boost volunteering numbers and to explore their community connections to help EdConnect grow.
The next session of the day was presented by EdConnect Volunteer Charlie Kennedy, who gives her time at Pakenham Consolidated Primary School to assist their Hands On Learning program, working with neurodiverse students.
Charlie shared her own schooling experience and her advocacy and change maker for the neurodiverse community. She reflected that she started volunteering as she wanted to provide neurodiverse students the support she wished she had.
Charlie also explained the personal satisfaction she gains in supporting students in their learning whilst witnessing the direct impact her lobbying and advocacy for neurodiverse students and the Hands On Learning program. Charlie’s session concluded with her Liaison Officer, Melinda facilitating a general Q & A session.
After a tasty morning tea and an opportunity for volunteers to chat and meet fellow volunteers and Victorian Board members, the group headed into the second segment on the day.
East Coast General Manager, Danie McNeil, facilitated an informative session on Trauma Informed Principles and their application in volunteering. This session was followed by group activities to help exchange knowledge and continue to build connections amongst volunteers. The day concluded with lunch and more mingling for the volunteers.
The day was a great success in bringing together Victorian Volunteers from all regions, which had been a goal over the past 5 years and it was great to see it come to fruition. The team now looks forward to planning the Term 2 coffee catch-ups, which will be hosted in each region.
For more information about the EdConnect Australia volunteer program visit www.edconnectaustralia.org.au, contact edconnect@edconnect.org.au or call 1800 668 550.