Volunteer Stories
Why I volunteer at CSF
Peter
Lewis
Working at this Centre is a rewarding, satisfying and happy
experience. The people I have worked with over the years
are generous with their time and support. We continue to
enjoy great support from the community and other service
agencies.
There have been many changes in society, and this is
clearly reflected in the work we did at the CAB. There were
no computers, bankcards or mobile phones, we only had
the resources we brought with us. Our training was mainly
to ensure we were the “right” sort of people. Most of our
clients worked Monday to Friday, got paid in cash and had
little access to loans. Most children lived with their family
in a stable home.
As society changed, so did our services, and we were well
supported by “In Service Training” from people who freely
gave their time and expertise. I was able to catch up the
few sessions I missed due to work because they were
recorded on cassettes.
The shift to paying people into bank accounts and the
arrival of bank credit cards and Centrelink changed our
working methods. Clients were able to get into debt easily
and couldn’t pay their bills. This created many problems
and increased the complexity of the issues facing our
clients.
Computers were gradually introduced. The first lesson
was to show us what a mouse was and what it did! Our
first foray into food provision was bread. We had some
freezers to keep the excess. Now we have a larder,
vouchers and many more freezers to help people.
When new people join, we always seem to get on well
together, so here’s to the next 50 years.
20
It takes a community
Delkhoa
Allahayri
Joining CSF in 2017 as a volunteer was a life changing
decision for me. Coming from a refugee background, it has
always been my desire to help those less fortunate within
the community.
I joined CSF through the RMIT program for student
volunteers. I was adamant that I would be suitable for
the position and able to assist clients in accordance to the
guidelines of the centre. Going into my first day at CSF, my
aim was to be empathetic towards clients and assist them
to the best of my knowledge. I soon came to learn that
at CSF it’s not about knowledge or experience, but rather
assisting the community in any way possible, relieving the
burdens that many endure.
As my time at CSF progressed, I realised that even if we
don’t have all the answers, we can still guide people to
services that they may not have known about. It also
means we are there to hear their stories.
The environment at CSF is caring and inviting for both
volunteers and clients, creating a safe place for those in
need. The office is a supportive environment, designed to
assist each other and share knowledge. We provide care
to clients by working collaboratively with interviewers and
management.
The most rewarding feeling is seeing clients appreciative of
our help during vulnerable times. Gaining this insight into
our community has helped shape my perspective, and I
endeavour to continue assisting these individuals.
Although my university placement has come to an end,
I am willing to continually commit to working at CSF,
and would highly recommend volunteering at CSF in any
capacity.