Bring your skills and knowledge to Phoenix House in Crows Nest for the opportunity to interact with different generations and learn from new experiences by giving back.
Knowledge is power, and a great source of knowledge is life experience. One of the ways to access this is by creating new connections and being open to new opportunities.
That is one of the main objectives at Phoenix House Youth Services in Crows Nest, a social organisation that provides support programs to young people and helps them to unlock their potential, achieve their goals and transform their lives.
Through different programs and activities, the organisation provides the opportunity for all to participate by offering their knowledge and sharing time with younger generations.
To Malvika Bali, a therapeutic specialist and project lead at Phoenix House, this is a two-ways opportunity for seniors who volunteer or mentor to share their talents, skills, and expertise with young people while receiving company and getting a better understanding of the issues that are current for the newer generations.
“The work that we do is providing support to youth from 12 to 25 years old that is at risk. All our volunteers have lived experience and they want to give back. That’s something we see a lot in the veteran community and in seniors,” Ms Bali says.
“Sometimes it’s because they feel when they retire you have no skills or nothing to give back to the community. And that’s just not true. We’ve got so many young people who don’t have safe mentors or an adult in their life who is safe and who just wants to hang out with them. And that’s what a mentor provides – peer support.”
Volunteers preparing homemade meals for the ‘Friday Lunch’.
Becoming a role model for young people can be not only fun but a fulfilling experience and could be something as simple as sharing a coffee or doing some gardening. Mentors and volunteers are selected carefully to ensure the best and safest outcome for all parties.
One of the programs that Phoenix House is currently running is the ‘Friday lunches’, where corporate volunteers go to the House to make lunch for clients (young people) and staff. Grainne Robertson, a therapeutic specialist and project leader says the program was ‘reignited’ by a retired volunteer.
“This interaction provides an opportunity for connection and education for everyone,” she explains.
“For the young people, they get to spend time with older people, professional people, or senior volunteers, and it’s their first opportunity to be around older people that are modeling professional behaviour that’s respectful to them.
Seniors are encouraged to come and offer their life experience and expertise as volunteers at Phoenix House.
“On the other hand, we get a lot of seniors that get to learn about the LGBTQ+ community or get access to social issues that they didn’t have access to before.
“It is a two-way learning process where the young people learn to respect their elders in a safe space, and the older people get to respect the younger as real people, not just an issue on the internet.”
Recently, the organisation has secured a grant for the project ‘Building Community Connectedness with Veterans and Youth’. The program aims to encourage veterans from the community and young people to engage and connect in a mutually beneficial way.
“A 60-year-old has much more life experience than I do. And that’s the education piece. So, ‘care, connect, educate’, underpins every movement that happens at Phoenix House,’ Ms Robertson adds.
If you want to participate or would like to get involved, visit phoenixhouse.org.au or call 1300 797 777.