The theme for this year’s Volunteer Week (May 15-21) is “the change makers”, and is a chance to celebrate the changes that our volunteers can make in child protection – and in children’s lives.

Department of Child Protection volunteers help with various tasks, including driving children to access visits with family members, and to school or medical appointments. They also help with homework support, assisting children at special events such as those organised for National Reconciliation Week and Youth Week, and helping them with their Life Story (scrap book of memories) work.

There are about 180 people volunteering with the department. The youngest volunteers are in their 20s, and the oldest in their 70s, with the volunteer force collectively pitching in more than 31,000 hours a year.

To become a volunteer, people must be aged 18 or over, have a driver’s licence, undergo a Working with Children Check and participate in induction and training sessions. 

People can register their interest in volunteering by calling 0492 000 743, or find out more information at childprotection.sa.gov.au/volunteers.

In this segment, we hear from Sue Macdonald, Executive Director Service Delivery and Practice, Department for Child Protection.