Susan turned to volunteering after her son suggested she needed to get out more. Now she teaches dress-making to people with a disability at Wavelink and also volunteers at Monash Volunteer Resource Centre. Susan tells her story in her first language of Cantonese, with English subtitiles.

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Volunteering case study transcript (English)

Hello. My name is Susan.  I am working as a volunteer at Monash Resource Centre as well as at Wavelink.

How did you get involved in volunteering?

Let me think…. It was my son who used to say I was bothering him. So he asked me to look for… um.. something to do, so he could be left alone. After that I rang around and happened to ask the Resource Centre if they needed my help. So here I am, with the Monash Volunteer Resource Centre.

What do you do in your volunteering role?

At Wavelink, I teach people with disabilities how to make clothes. Yeah…First, I help them to cut the pattern, and then I use a needle and thread to do a tailor’s tack. We do everything ourselves. Then I use either a sewing machine or an overlocker to help them finish off the clothes.

At Monash Resource Centre, I ring up elderly people, and talk to them, keep them company, and check to see if I can be of any help. They might want to go and see a doctor, or they might want to take part in some social activities at various community organisations, or they might want to have a meal there.  We try to help them to get there.

Did you need any specific skills or experience to do your volunteering role?

We don’t need any specific skills or talents to become a volunteer. The only thing that’s required is that you have time and commitment for the clients. You need to make an effort to befriend them, to communicate with them. That’s all you need. You teach them, or tell them what you know. On the other hand, you may be able to learn something from them.
We just communicate and interact.

What’s the best thing about being a volunteer?

I’m very happy being a volunteer. I can offer my help to others. I’m not trying to say I’m better than the others. I just think that we help each other. I’m happy when they help me, and on the other hand, they’re very happy when I help them, as simple as that.

Would you recommend volunteering to anyone else?

Of course I would. If you have a chance to become a volunteer, it would bring you a lot of happiness. I remember when I was young, my mother used to say that I was no good for anything. But now I’m very useful by, for example, helping people and learning from them.

I now live a happy life.

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