The most significant community organisation of the Greek Australian community was, not that long ago, born and raised on a voluntary basis. It was volunteers who started Fronditha Care and Australian Greek Welfare Society (AGWS), and today, it’s volunteers who lend their helping hand to these organisations.
National Volunteer Week, from 12 to 18 May, is the largest celebration of volunteers and volunteerism in Australia, and an opportunity for communities to highlight the role that Australia’s 6.4 million volunteers play.
And the value that volunteers add to the Greek Australian community is far more important than just economic value.
It’s the vital social benefits that make volunteers priceless. They add value to the lives of the people they support, they help build trust and connections within communities; they enhance community well-being and make them stronger and more resilient.
Voluntary service is a fundamental principle of community organisations like Fronditha Care and AGWS.
Paraskevi Tsingas, AGWS Senior Coordinator of Volunteer Work Force Development, says the contribution of volunteers is priceless. The number of those who approach AGWS willing to volunteer increases from year to year, with many of them on the waiting list.
“AGWS volunteers play a vital role in providing companionship as well as linguistically and culturally appropriate support and activities to Greek residents of aged care facilities as well as socially isolated Greek speaking people living at home,” she tells Neos Kosmos.
Today, AGWS care is supported by over 200 volunteers, the majority of them over 60 years of age.
“I am so grateful to our community. The response of volunteers is amazing in all areas. Many people are interested in becoming a volunteer, but unfortunately not all of them can get a position due to limited numbers.
“Volunteerism is the foundation of our organisation, that’s what it’s based on,” Ms Tsingas tells.
Jacob Fronistas, treasurer for Fronditha Care, who has been involved with the organisation for 34 years and was once its youngest board member, says it’s only been in the last few years that young people started joining the board.
“It’s been mainly the elderly who have volunteered their time and services. It’s still older people in all those community organisations that try to keep the organisations going, while the younger generations are not interested, haven’t got time, passion or commitment,” Mr Fronistas says.
At AGWS, the official volunteers program is now 25 years old. But since it was first founded 45 years ago, AGWS – just like Fronditha Care – was always supported by volunteers.
“The volunteer is the one who knows all the programs and what happens at AGWS through the training they undertake, and they become the ambassador who passes on this knowledge. And that is even more emphasised in the community where not all of our members speak good English,” Ms Tsingas explains.
Having the reputation that AGWS enjoys within the community helps the organisation that is never short of volunteers. It’s the feeling of belonging to AGWS and the joy of giving that play the main role in the dedication of AGWS volunteers.
“One lady recently told me ‘I came here to give, and then I wonder – did I come to give or to take?’,” Ms Tsingas says.
Similarly, Fronditha Care has always had volunteers support. It wasn’t until the first aged care opened up in 1983 in Clayton that staff was employed. For six years, from 1977 to 1983, all the work was done by volunteers. Today, Fronditha Care has around 200 registered volunteers.
“There are different levels of volunteers at Fronditha. Those who are on the board, who ensure that the organisation is run properly. People in the auxiliaries, also very important to Fronditha – they are the ones who are involved in doing a lot of fundraising.
“Then we have a group of volunteers who visit aged care facilities, spend hours with the elderly, talk to them, play tavli, do activities with them.
“The elderly look forward to their visits. It’s a very important thing, that keeps the elderly active and it actually enhances and improves their quality of life. Volunteers play a very important role at Fronditha and no money can buy these things. They are there for the love of the elderly,” Mr Fronistas said.
A special morning tea was held on Friday to celebrate and acknowledge Fronditha Care volunteers who have helped during the years. On 22 May, AGWS will honour its volunteers on the occasion of National Volunteers Week.