Empowering personal growth through volunteering

Who would have thought that a simple decision to volunteer could lead to profound personal growth and transformation?

Persie began volunteering at Vinnies in November 2021 when she was 16. "I had been looking for a job over the summer holidays, mostly because I wanted to do some work experience more than anything else… I had been kind of exposed to Vinnies through what I saw them doing in the community," Persie shares.

Family story of St Vincent de Paul Society

Persie is referring to her own backstory here. Her grandfather often spoke about how St Vincent de Paul Society had helped his family when they arrived in Australia from Malta in 1961. "He was 12 years old," Persie says, "and he told me that they had mattresses, but no bedframes and didn't have many clothes, so Vinnies helped. He was very excited when I told him that, 40 years later, I wanted to start volunteering with Vinnies."

The initial days at the shop brought a mix of excitement and nervousness for Persie – but not for long. Despite these jitters, Persie quickly fell in love with the job and the team: "After my first day, I could already tell that it was a really supportive environment. I was excited to keep coming back," she reflects.

She soon settled into a routine of volunteering, even while managing her school commitments, cherishing the busy Saturdays when the shop was abuzz with customers. "It's busy. I really enjoy being in this fast-paced environment where I am on the register a lot because serving customers is my favourite thing to do," she says.

Volunteering with Vinnies: Having a life outside school

Even as the demands of her year 11 studies grew, she remained dedicated to her Saturday shifts. "I have never considered cutting my hours. The only time I called to say I couldn’t come in was because I had a nightmare that I had failed an important test,” she laughs and explains: "I prioritised volunteering just to have a life outside school because it can really get overwhelming doing year 11 and 12. There is so much work to do, and always very long to-do lists. I always felt that even if I crossed everything off my list, there was something I could have been working on."

It was Persie’s way of balancing the academic pressures with a fulfilling task and supportive community. As she navigated the challenges of high school, Vinnies provided a sanctuary – a place to socialise, talk to like-minded people and find respite from the relentless workload.

However, one of the most surprising aspects of her volunteering experience was the personal growth she encountered. "When I first started, I wasn't entirely sure how long I would be here or if I would continue once the holidays were over," Persie admits. After a while, she discovered she was gaining much more from Vinnies than she initially put in.

“We just love to be helping”

This revelation transformed her perspective on volunteering. "I think that is part of the reason why most of us volunteers are here," she observes. "We just love to be helping, to feel like we are achieving something, to feel like we are waking up that day and doing something worthwhile."

Persie's experience at Vinnies exposed her to the tangible impact of the charity's work. While she may not have personally witnessed soup vans in action providing meals or handing out material aid needed by the assistance centres or conference members, she experienced the impact through the stories of the customers she served.

She agrees that what impacts her most is when she’s able to help customers find clothes, they wouldn't otherwise be able to afford. She also mentions customers buying Christmas presents for their children and supplies for their babies that they couldn’t buy new since they can hardly make ends meet. These experiences deeply resonate with her. "Those are the situations that I actually see, and that makes me really happy. That is really important for me and many volunteers," she emphasises.

The power of collaboration and teamwork

Another significant milestone in Persie's volunteering journey was when her manager asked her to train a new volunteer. Despite initially hesitating, thinking she had nothing to offer and share, she realised she had picked up valuable skills and knowledge at Vinnies. "I taught her how to use the computer system because I picked that up pretty quickly. She taught me a lot about customer service," Persie recalls. "That was something that really stuck with me." It highlighted to her how collaboration can foster growth and learning and demonstrated the power of collaboration and teamwork.

“A lot of improvement comes from collaboration and teamwork and being part of a team,” Persie says. She could apply it to her study process for the International Baccalaureate (IB). For an extended essay her group had to write, she collaboratively drove the idea to form a study group and share learnings instead of facing the task individually. “It was what got us over the big roadblock of essay writing. That momentum was really important. That collaboration theme is common across areas, whether in school, in the workplace or just in general in life.”

Time for personal growth

The heart of Persie's dedication to Vinnies lies in the sense of community and support she has found there. "I just love spending time with the people here," she shares. "I feel like it is a community, a very supportive place to be. Everything we are doing in the shop is very much a team effort, and we are going to improve outcomes for everyone by trying to improve each other and holding each other accountable.” A lot of that comes down to the managers, Persie finds: “The managers are absolutely wonderful at framing things in a growth and positive mindset, which helps everyone."

Reflecting on her journey, Persie acknowledges the personal transformation she has undergone. She speaks of newfound confidence developed through customer interactions and support from her managers and fellow volunteers. "When I first started here in terms of talking to customers, I was scared to speak confidently," she admits. "I was afraid to ask questions, to really approach customers." Over time, she overcame these initial fears and noticed her own growth when she began training new volunteers. "I realised I had grown to a point where I was not only doing things with confidence but trying to instil that confidence in other team members," she proudly shares.

A sense of pride to be contributing to the community

As Persie's volunteering journey evolved, so did her perspective on its significance. What began as an endeavour to gain work experience gradually transformed into a source of pride—a source of contributing to the community. “I started to realise that what we do actually does have an impact on the community and I went from that being something very secondary in my mind to being incredibly important.

"The idea of getting a paid job was out of the question," she acknowledges, recognising the value of her volunteering role's flexibility. "I traded that monetary compensation for a lot of flexibility.” Her experience has taught her that some lessons cannot be learned from books or lectures alone. "I truly believe some things you can't learn from a book or someone telling you."

Persie's journey at Vinnies has not only changed her life but has also impacted her social circle by exposing her to diverse personalities and perspectives. "I have discovered myself more. Especially over the past two years, I have grown into a much more social person, which is essential to me. Volunteering at Vinnies has done amazing things for my personal growth and how I can apply myself, present myself and articulate myself.”

Persie’s brother has joined the Vinnie’s team too

There is no doubt that Persie's journey at Vinnies has been a transformative one. She has discovered her inner strength, honed her skills, and gained invaluable experiences – and her family’s Vinnies story doesn’t end there with her 15-year-old brother Reece also looking to follow Persie’s footsteps as a Vinnies volunteer. “I have also seen his confidence grow a lot, which is really wonderful to see. I am a very proud older sister.”

Persie’s story highlights the power of collaboration and community and showcases the ripple effect of change that volunteering, particularly with Vinnies, can create in one's life. It’s a tale of growth, empowerment and social impact.

Have you ever wondered how giving back to your community might lead to your personal growth and transformation? Do you like the idea of your contributions rippling outward and creating positive change for those around you? We are always looking for new volunteers. Join us here: Vinnies Volunteering Opportunities in Victoria | Vinnies Victoria