Recipients of the Awards will be announced at a Civic Reception on 21st May 2024.
Congratulations also to all volunteers who were nominated. The judges had an extremely difficult job of narrowing down the finalists.
Proudly sponsored by McDonalds
The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented in honour of an individual who has made an exemplary voluntary contribution. This award celebrates those who have made a significant impact towards the Townsville community’s well-being through their volunteering. Nominees must be over 24 years of age.
Click on Andrew’s name below to expand to read his volunteering story.
Andrew’s commitment to volunteering is truly remarkable, dedicating an impressive four days a week at Community Gro in order to serve the community. What sets Andrew apart is not just his regular involvement but his unwavering willingness to do more whenever needed. He exemplifies the spirit of selflessness and dedication that is the hallmark of an exceptional volunteer. Andrew is a dedicated volunteer with a diverse skill set, making invaluable contributions to various initiatives aimed at supporting the community. His commitment to programs such as OzHarvest and Second Bite is exemplary, where he plays a pivotal role in food relief efforts. Whether it’s covering reception duties, transporting donations, washing fleet vehicles, or undertaking lifting tasks, Andrew’s versatility shines through.
In addition to his hands-on involvement in day-to-day operations, Andrew goes above and beyond by ensuring the cleanliness and functionality of the centre. He takes charge of tasks ranging from rotating pantry items, cleaning the centre, and providing a person to talk to for community, ensuring seamless operations.
During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrew stepped up to the plate, delivering meals to vulnerable community members, demonstrating his compassion and dedication to supporting those in need. His involvement in all of Community Gro’s emergency relief efforts such as provision of food from OzHarvest, Second Bite, Fareshare and others further underscores his commitment to alleviating food insecurity.
One of Andrew’s most notable contributions is his pivotal role in the organization’s yearly Family Fun Day, a cornerstone event with over 3000 attendees. Andrew’s enthusiasm extends to organising and participating in Community Gro’s annual Family Fun Day activities, bringing joy and a sense of community to those he serves. His willingness to tackle any task, from setting up for the day, rubbish removal on the day, collecting cans, managing cars in and out of the venue, to assisting with logistics, highlights his unwavering dedication and positive impact on the organisation and the community at large. As the first to arrive and the last to leave, his tireless efforts ensure that every detail is attended to, creating a memorable experience for all involved.
Andrew’s commitment to serving others are an inspiration to his fellow volunteers and the community as a whole. His passion for making a difference and his willingness to go above and beyond embody the true spirit of volunteerism. He takes initiative in creative fundraising efforts, notably leading our recycling project. Andrew spearheads the collection and return of cans to the recycling depot, harnessing their monetary value to generate additional funds for the centre’s support.
Andrew embodies a plethora of admirable attributes that greatly enrich the community and the centre he serves. First and foremost, his unwavering commitment to the community is evident through his consistent willingness to lend a helping hand to anyone in need. Whether it’s assisting individuals or spearheading initiatives for the betterment of the Community centre, Andrew’s dedication knows no bounds. His proactive approach to volunteering is complemented by his creativity and resourcefulness. Andrew consistently seeks out ways to raise funds and enhance the centre’s facilities, demonstrating a genuine passion for making a tangible difference in the lives of others. Andrew’s personable nature shines through in his interactions with the community. He creates a warm and welcoming atmosphere by engaging in meaningful conversations and offering support to vulnerable members. His ability to connect with others exemplifies the essence of community spirit and inclusivity. Furthermore, Andrew’s sense of humour brings levity to any situation, fostering a positive and supportive environment for both staff and volunteers alike. His cheerful demeanour and readiness to laugh uplift the spirits of those around him, creating a sense o fcamaraderie and teamwork. Above all, Andrew’s unwavering dedication and infectious enthusiasm make him a cherished asset to the community and the centre. His consistent presence, coupled with his genuine desire to make a difference, truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism and sets a shining example for others to follow.
Click on Richard’s name below to expand to read his volunteering story.
Currently, Richard is one of our wonderful “convenience trolley vollies who comes in twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The convenience trolley is like our little gift shop on wheels and visits patients throughout the hospital selling everything from newspapers and magazines, to snacks and drinks, to personal products and toys. Richard has a friendly and happy demeanour which enables him to engage with both patients and staff, and as the old saying goes, “he could sell ice to eskimos”.
During the six years he has been a volunteer he has been a courtesy buggy driver, Children’s Ward volunteer, provided music entertainment at our annual book fair and helped at our monthly sausage sizzles. Richard also dresses up as our lovable mascot Bandi Bear and brings great enjoyment to patients, their families and staff as he dances his way around the hospital hallways. At times he also morphs into a rampaging dinosaur who roars his way around the hospital creating a huge distraction for patients, especially the sick children. However, there is another side to Richard that brings a lot of joy and a little bit of magic to many people. In the month leading up to Christmas, he assumes the role of “Santa’ although no one ever sees him. Hospital staff are invited to deliver their children’s Santa letters to Brighter Lives where we pass them on to Richard. In response, the children all receive a personalised letter with a Santa photo and a list of names of Santa’s helpers. Richard answers all their questions (and there have been quite a few) to make sure they believe in Santa. All letters are kept on his computer so that they can be used as a reference for the following year when they write again. Richard hand delivers the letters to the children’s homes during the day while they are at school. All of the costs for this are totally incurred by Richard and he asks for no recompense. Each year the number of Santa letters has been increasing and last year hit a record with 264 Santa letters being delivered.
Richard enriches the Townsville Hospital by engaging with patients and staff during his shifts. He is quite the entertainer and loves interacting with people, so he spreads a lot of happiness while he is on duty. His selling skills also assist in raising money for Brighter Lives which in turn is used to help fund equipment, training, research and projects across the Townsville Hospital and Health Service.
Click on Jarrah’s name below to expand to read her volunteering story.
Jarrah has been volunteering with Happy Feat Inc, a dance group for adults with differing abilities, since she was 15 and has just celebrated her 10 year anniversary with them. For the past 4 of those years she has been the groups dance teacher. Jarrah’s commitment is unwavering, not only does she spend every Wednesday night at the hall teaching, she spends countless hours choreographing routines to ensure each and every member is able to participate and shine to the best of their abilities, through the love of dance.
Through her passion for dance Jarrah is able to foster creativity, self-expression, physical fitness, and a love for dance within the community. She has an innate ability to develop innovative and imaginative dance routines that capture the interest and enthusiasm of the Happy Featers.
Happy Feat is not the only group lucky enough to have Jarrah on their team. Jarrah has been involved with a number of dance programs delivered into some of our local schools, been part of the audition process for local theatre groups and has choreographed dances for many performances in the local community, including the Delta Goodrem concert, the Dance for Daniel ball, Cowboys home games, the Mayor’s All Stars Concert and most recently the Bring Pink to Townsville video. Her smile, positivity and kindness are infectious and the sense of pride, confidence and accomplishment she nurtures within the Happy Feat group and volunteers is truly something to be seen, shared and acknowledged.
Jarrah is very committed to inclusiveness, so much so, she choreographed a chair dance, not just for those who have mobility issues but for everyone to participate in. Her motivation behind this was to be all embracing to everyone’s abilities and to show support to those who may not be as able bodied as others. During COVID when the weekly Happy Feat group could not meet, Jarrah was determined that they did not miss out, so she filmed herself doing the regular Wednesday night dances from her home. A couple of these videos were posted on the Happy Feat Facebook page at 7pm every Wednesday night so everyone could watch, follow and dance even though it was in their own lounge rooms. Socialising and interaction with others play such an important role to everyone but especially to those with extra needs and differing abilities and this was a fantastic way to support the group during the difficult time of isolation. Parents and carers were overwhelmingly grateful for Jarrah’s kindness and forward thinking in coming up with the idea.
Jarrah’s work extends beyond dance, fostering personal growth, community bonds, and enhancing well-being. She serves as an inspiration, motivating participants to overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Jarrah also contributes to curriculum development, class planning, and choreography. Her passion for dance fosters creativity, self-expression, and physical fitness within the community. Her excellent communication and interpersonal skills, patience, empathy, and positive attitude are evident in her teaching. She is sensitive to diverse cultural backgrounds and traditions, incorporating elements of cultural dance into her routines. Her strong leadership skills foster a positive and enjoyable learning environment. Jarrah’s tireless efforts have left a lasting and positive impact, making her an exceptional candidate for the Volunteer of the Year award. Her work enriches the lives of its members and magnifies the outcomes for the group beyond a single individual’s capability. She truly is an enabler of joy, achievement, self-worth, and belonging. She has a skill that can be used to enrich the lives of others, challenge their abilities, and provide uncomplicated achievement. Her light and generosity shine brightly into the wider Townsville Community.
Proudly sponsored by Incitec Pivot
The Youth Volunteer of the Year Award is presented in honour of an individual (aged 14 to 24), who has demonstrated an outstanding voluntary commitment to the Townsville community. This award celebrates how the nominee positively impacted the lives of others through volunteering.
Click on Jamie’s name below to expand to read her volunteering story.
Jamie fosters puppies, cleans kennels, transport different animals, takes unwanted animals off the street, helps care for wildlife. Jamie is always willing to help. She puts the wellbeing and safety of the animals first. Jamie comforts all the animals when they are injured even if she knows that they will pass away from their injuries. She has stayed on site for an injured horse waiting for the vet to come and euthanise comforting the animal at its end of life. Jamie has lost income because she has put her volunteering and the safety of the animals she is rescuing first. Jamie’s rescue of animals started before she had her licence. If she saw an animal in need or at risk she would get her parents involved to rescue the animal. Jamie has saved thousands of animals – birds including a peacock, cats, dogs, ducks, a horse and a bilby.
Click on Conor’s name below to expand to read his volunteering story.
Conor came to RMHC in 2017 through school (Southern Cross Catholic College) to undertake some work experience. He returned in 2021 to volunteer in the house at Townsville. Conor was a regular volunteer helping around the house, doing deliveries, picking up items & generally helping to ensure operations ran smoothly. He got a job but requested his new employment to allow him a Friday morning to continue his Volunteering with RMHC. He now works 5 days a week but still volunteers his time in the family room and has become a major part of RMHC. Conor always had a dream to play bagpipes at Anzac Day and in April 2024 this dream came true and the RMHC family could not be prouder. Conor has his own challenges with a disability but he does not let anything stop him achieving his goals and dreams and to us he is a super hero.
Proudly sponsored by Ergon Energy
The Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award is presented in honour of an individual who has made an exemplary life-long contribution to volunteering. This award is proudly presented to the nominee whose long-term dedication to giving, clearly demonstrates betterment of the Townsville community.
Click on Stuart’s name below to expand to read his volunteering story.
Stuart currently serves as a dedicated volunteer with multiple organizations, embodying the spirit of community service and compassion. Primarily, Stuart devotes two days per week to volunteering with UnitingCare’s Better Future program, where he assists with reception duties, offers support to individuals with disabilities, and facilitates community integration. Stuart’s role involves engaging with people, aiding them in completing forms, organising appointments, and providing invaluable assistance to those in need. Stuart, has faced challenging personal circumstances, including a battle with cancer. Over the past year, Stuart underwent treatment for cancer found in the right side of his neck. Despite the significant health challenge, Stuart persevered, demonstrating resilience and determination in his commitment to volunteering. While dealing with cancer treatment, Stuart did take a short break but otherwise continued to fulfill his volunteer responsibilities, showcasing his dedication to making a positive impact in the community despite facing adversity. Overall, Stuart’s attributes of compassion, dedication, resilience, effective communication, organisational skills, leadership, adaptability, and a positive attitude collectively makes him an exceptional volunteer, greatly enhancing the quality and impact of his service.
Click on Sandra’s name below to expand to read her volunteering story.
Sandra has been a scout leader since she was 16 years old in 1967. In 2019 she decided she wanted a change and a former colleague recommended she join Ronald McDonald House Charity. She has been a scout leader for 57 years. Sandra has been with RMHC NA for 5 years. As a former teacher’s aide she took on the role of “Learning Legends” twice a week to help the RMHC Children and families with learning, crafts and fun activities. Sandra has trained and mentored many Volunteers in her 5 years and is a regular at the local expos for scouts and RMHC. Sandra is a hard worker and is dedicated to the success of the learning programs she is involved in. She is committed to bringing fun and joy to every child and family in the RMHC. Sandra has contributed so much to the youth of Townsville for both scouts and the families in need at RMHC. She deserves every accolade possible for dedicating so much of her time to benefit others.
Click on Sue’s name below to expand to read her volunteering story.
President of the Rollingstone & District Community Association, Sue von Wald is a strong leader, a visionary, and has the ability to inspire others to perform well while providing encouragement and support.
Mrs von Wald has a deep love for her community of over 40 years and has worked tirelessly and successfully with other members of the Association Management Committee and Members, to promote change and build infrastructure in the Rollingstone and Balgal Beach Districts.
Mrs von Wald does not let barriers stand in her way when working on a project. If she is told you CAN’T – she will respond with “bet you I can” and does. Many of the Community Assets can be contributed to Mrs von Wald’s abiltity to recognise a need in the community and respond to that need.
As Secretary of Association, working as a team, the standing committee was responsible for the successful grant funding application resulted in the building the Rollingstone Community Hall. This hall was built with volunteer labour under the guidance of the President of the Association at the time Mr Colin Pace. Many further grant applications followed including funding for the Kitchen, vinyl flooring, side verandah and airconditioning. The area where the Community Hall was built has grown to incorporate a Neighbourhood Centre (Lobbied for by Mrs von Wald), a lend library in the relocated Rollingstone Railway station and a railway display. Not to mention an Op Shop which assists with fundraising for the Association, all being driven by Mrs von Wald’s ability to identify a gap in the needs of the Community. Pace Park sporting grounds which have been upgraded to sporting standards through Sport and Rec funding is also a vision Mrs von Wald held for her community. Most of this was due to Mrs von Wald’s determination to create a facility for the residents to come and socialise, exercise and access services that would have had residents driving to Townsville or Ingham for the same services. Mrs von Wald saw the need for a medical facility in the district. After negotiating with the Doctors in a neighbouring community, a part-time Medical Service was established working out of the Neighbourhood Centre offices. The statistics from this project confirmed the need and after funding was achieved the Balgal Beach Medical Practice was built with an accompanying pharmacy and pathology.
Proudly sponsored by South 32
The Excellence in Volunteer Management Award is presented in honour of a volunteer manager (paid or non-paid) who has demonstrated best practice and outstanding performance in the management of volunteers and the delivery of volunteering programs in the Townsville community. The award recognises the dedicated individuals who deliver successful volunteering programs.
Click on Jim’s name below to expand to read his volunteering story.
Jim is First Officer of Rangewood Rural Fire Brigade and First Officer of Northern Region Operational Support Group and Rural Fire Brigade Association of Queensland Townsville area Representative. Jim is always looking for new ways to make the brigades contemporary, to close business short comings and ensure that the brigades can assist with effective service delivery for a safer QLD community in the line of fire and incident response. As the RFBAQ delegate he listens to the concerns and desires of members, provides guidance and support and tables the information at the required level within the organisation or at a political level within the Association’s bounds. This has included an initiative of creating welfare cubes consisting of washing machines, toilets and showers to deploy to incident grounds to assist with contamination, and amenities for firefighting crews in remote locations. This capability was not previously in existence prior within the RFS Townsville area.
Jim is the first volunteer in QLD to undertake control a level 3 incident training, joining a handful of paid QFES personnel who hold the qualification in the state. Jim has been creating unique although basic training events to ensure members remain engaged utilising his membership base skillsets including trailer reversing, HR, forklift and telehandler licenses with internal training sessions. Meetings that are held are designed for both information sharing and gathering and including trialling new ways to try new things within the organisations policies and procedures. Jim is currently focused on with the assistance of the Area Director to find appropriate roles that personnel can undertake that cannot be operational firefighters, understanding their medical restrictions and providing meaningful tasks for organisational contributions.
Click on Louise’s name below to expand to read her volunteering story.
Louise has developed into the amazing volunteer manager that she is over the last 8 years she has been managing volunteers. Louise started as a volunteer collecting donations and quickly became an intrinsic part of our organisation. On top of managing approximately 150 volunteers, Louise oversees the day-to-day operations of Angel-Paws. Volunteers are such a significant part of our organisation and Louise’s works with all the volunteers on a daily basis, communicating, coordinating and supporting the volunteers. Louise consistently demonstrates exceptional qualities that have not only inspired the volunteers but have also made a significant impact on the organisation as a whole.
Empathy is at the core of Louise’s leadership style. She has a remarkable ability to understand and connect with each volunteer on a personal level, making everyone feel valued and appreciated. This empathy creates a supportive and inclusive environment where volunteers feel comfortable sharing their ideas and concerns. As a leader, Louise encourages ownership among the volunteers. She empowers individuals to take on responsibilities and make decisions, fostering a sense of pride and accountability within the team. This approach has increased engagement and productivity among volunteers, as they feel a sense of ownership over their work. Louise’s sharp wit and sense of humour bring a light-hearted and enjoyable atmosphere to the volunteer team. They have a knack for turning challenging situations into opportunities for laughter and growth, creating a positive and uplifting environment for everyone involved. Above all, Louise leads with compassion. She shows genuine care and concern for each volunteer, always ready to listen and offer support when needed. Her compassion not only strengthens the bond within the team but also motivates volunteers to give their best and make a difference in the community. Louise is a shining example of a volunteer manager who embodies empathy, good leadership, and encourages ownership, humour, and compassion. Her dedication and positive influence have made a lasting impact on both the volunteers and the organisation as a whole.
Click on Marlene’s name below to expand to read her volunteering story.
Marlene is our current Volunteer Coordinator. She has been in this role for four years. Her tireless efforts with monthly rostering, weekly posts communicating with volunteers on shift, replying to countless private messages from volunteers asking for shift swaps to training new volunteers, and collating and updating the volunteer handbook are just some of the many reasons why she is deserving of this award.
Her personalised approach is evident as she not only knows each of our 55 volunteers by name, but also addresses their individual needs and concerns with care and attention. Her reliability, dedication and hard work is seen weekly, her willingness to step in at a moment’s notice, often rearranging her own plans to ensure the library remains operational when unforeseen circumstances arise. Whether it’s providing last-minute coverage for a shift or offering comprehensive training to new volunteers, Marlene is someone the library can rely on. She has a welcoming, friendly, approachable presence which makes everyone feel valued and appreciated. She is known for her creative touch, often collating videos/reels for special events and helping to decorate the library.
Marlene has been actively involved with the library for the past six years, joining as a volunteer to now being on our committee as the Volunteer Coordinator. She has been the lead volunteer on shift at least 35 times in the past ten months, meaning she is at the library almost every week. She spends hours sorting the roster, training volunteers and overall ensuring the library is an enjoyable safe space for families. She recently spent three days rearranging the shelving and toys for a more functional layout. She is known to stay back after the shift to complete the unfinished jobs and clean.
Marlene works tirelessly to ensure the toy library’s volunteers are well looked after. She welcomes each new volunteer to the library with an introductory email and meets them at the library to undergo training, ensuring that volunteers have the confidence and knowledge to work in the library. She is always available by phone or email to respond to volunteers’ enquiries or to help them with technical issues or shift swaps. Marlene has also organised several social events for our volunteers, to allow volunteers to get to know each other better in a relaxed environment and to create a sense of community, while also rewarding volunteers for their efforts. Some volunteer events that she has been instrumental in organising include Bubbles in the Park and the library’s annual volunteer Christmas party.
Proudly sponsored by Townsville Bulletin
The Community Volunteering Program Impact Award is presented to an organisation in recognition of a volunteering program or activity that has made a significant impact on the Townsville community. This can be defined as positive, measurable and sustainable, economic, social, cultural and/or environmental impact.
Click on Happy Feat’s name below to expand to read their volunteering story.
Happy Feat Inc Townsville is an exceptional dance group catering to individuals with special needs and “differing abilities.” Since its inception in May 2010, Happy Feat has been a beacon of inclusivity, providing a supportive and encouraging environment where participants can showcase their talents and abilities without the constraints of labels or limitations. Members of the group face various challenges, including Acquired Brain Injuries, Down syndrome, Autism, Asperger’s, and Charcot Marie Tooth Disease. Despite these challenges, Happy Feat fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment through weekly dance sessions and regular performances at community events.
The primary aim of Happy Feat Inc Townsville is to promote the integration of individuals with disabilities into the broader community through the art of dance. Their objectives include:• Facilitating interaction between persons with disabilities and the general community through dance and related activities.• Providing tailored dance tuition to individuals with mental and physical disabilities, accommodating their unique needs and abilities.• Increasing public awareness and understanding of disabilities through public performances by the association’s dance groups.• Offering social and recreational activities for the benefit of individuals with disabilities, enhancing their quality of life and providing relief from the challenges they face.• Promoting equality and fostering a culture of inclusivity where everyone is valued and respected for their abilities.
The program/activity benefits various stakeholders within the Townsville community:• Individuals with disabilities benefit from a supportive and inclusive environment where they can express themselves through dance, build confidence, and form meaningful connections with their peers.• Families and caregivers of participants find a supportive community through Happy Feat, where their loved ones are celebrated and included, reducing social isolation and providing respite.• Happy Feat’s performances and activities contribute to a more inclusive and understanding community, challenging stereotypes and promoting acceptance of individuals with disabilities.
In summary, Happy Feat Inc Townsville’s dance program goes beyond entertainment; it serves as a platform for empowerment, inclusion, and social change. By providing individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in dance classes and community events, Happy Feat has made a significant impact on the lives of its members and the broader Townsville community. Their dedication to promoting equality and celebrating diversity truly embodies the spirit of the VNQ 2024 Volunteering Impact Award.
Happy Feat regularly participates in community events, bringing joy and entertainment to residents of Townsville. Their performances not only showcase the talents of individuals with disabilities but also foster a sense of unity and inclusivity within the community. Through dance sessions and performances, participants of Happy Feat develop confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of accomplishment. Many members have reported increased social skills, improved physical health, and a greater sense of belonging within the community. Many have gone on to gain full time employment and some have commenced their own businesses. Gaining confidence has changed their lives. Happy Feat’s activities raise awareness about the abilities and potential of individuals with disabilities. By challenging stereotypes and breaking down barriers, they promote a more inclusive and understanding community where diversity is celebrated. The program provides not only a platform for individuals with disabilities to showcase their talents but also a supportive community where they can form friendships, share experiences, and receive encouragement from peers and mentors. Since its inception, Happy Feat has consistently maintained high attendance rates, with a waiting list for both members and supporters. With 40 Happy Featers with special needs and an additional 60 attendees including support workers, families, and volunteers, each weekly session accommodates approximately 100 people.
Click on the Triple T Community Radio International Sunday Program’s name below to expand to read their volunteering story.
Every Sunday, a dedicated team of 12 volunteer presenters, offer 8 hours of shows on ripple T 103.9fm in a variety of languages that most represent the cultural tapestry of Townsville and its region. The aim of this weekly program is 5-fold: It provides an opportunity for (near) native speakers to listen to their mother tongue and find out what is happening in Townsville; It enables students learning those languages, to learn more about these communities (vocabulary, pronunciation, songs, special days, events…); It connects the community radio station to the wider community through multicultural sponsorships from local businesses, multicultural organisations and associations event promotions, and visitors to the area; It promotes diversity, multiculturalism and language; and It enables our local Townsvillians’ volunteers and visiting guests to our shows to share culture.
This program enriches our community socially, culturally and economically: SOCIAL interaction is happening with our listeners (who can phone in and talk/request songs), with our invited guests who can experience speaking on a radio studio while sharing something about their culture and their experience of the Townsville region, and our volunteer presenters who can meetup every week at the station and practise their mother-tongue. Its positive impact can be measured in the number of bookings the station receives to host live music (Indian Song Competition, Filipino Festival, Cultural Fest, Multicultural Day), the weekly phone calls received, and our growing program to meet demand, for instance, a new African show to support the huge African demographic in Townsville. Form a CULTURAL perspective, our shows promote language and culture through topic-based themes and authentic music from various eras. Some of our presenters speak to international students starting at JCU, collaborate with other groups for special events such as World Music Day that started off in France, or share an interview with international guests, such as Étienne Steven Langlois, award-winning teacher from Canada, the Pacific XIII U17 rugby team from the French- Polynesia region, the Belgian Ambassador in Australia, etc. ECONOMICALLY speaking, our program attracts financial sponsorships from local businesses and organisations and bookings to various cultural events as far as Ingham (Italian Festival). It also offers free learning to students and teachers in the area who can listen in and learn for free, or access some pre-records through the replay option on the radio website.
Click on LearnIT’s name below to expand to read their volunteering story.
LearnIT is a Learner Driver Mentoring Program for youth that takes them through a five-stage competency and skills-based training system which develops good driving habits and provides support for a Provisional License. The program also develops the young person’s time management, communication, and work readiness skills building their self-esteem, improving their mental health leading to independence and employability. The program Runs 7 days a week 7am-9pm 363 days a year
The aim of the program through funding is to support young people to gain their P License using a 5 staged capacity and skill building program. The program benefits youth 16-25 years of age. They grow not only in their driving skills and gain a P Licence but they also develop a positive sense of self, road awareness, pre work readiness soft skills, improved time management skills.
The volunteer mentors who participate in the program, come away with a sense of accomplishment and achievement, positive sense of self and they help to combat a sense of loneliness, isolation and depression. Mentors also feel connected to the community and a wonderful sense of purpose. They also get to meet new interesting people and share their knowledge and skills with a broad range of people.
VNQ thanks our Sponsors and Partners for their support.
Find out more about them and their involvement in our community here.