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Volunteering & Social Services
By Miriam Lewis
Would you like some career experience or maybe some time away from study? In addition
to looking pretty good on your resume, volunteering is a great way to meet new people and
give back to the community!! Melbourne, college and uni are pretty lit – there are so many
opportunities!
College
The Social Services committee runs lots of events
throughout the year, which are a brilliant way to
get involved, and are literally presented right in
front of you!
Past events:
» World’s Greatest Shave
» SwapVac (get clothes you don’t want, swap
with others at college, leftover clothes goes to
Savers (local store))
» Tutoring for refugees
These are great opportunities that many members
of JCH get involved in and are always heaps of
fun!
Outside College
There are many opportunities outside college/uni
too! For example, we have quite a few hospitals
around which look for vollies – I volunteered with
the Starlight Foundation at the Royal Children’s
and it was really incredible.
For the nature nerds, there are also big networks
for environmental volunteering, such as through
Parks VIC (ParkConnect) & even UniMelb. Some
volunteering options require a weekly/fortnightly
commitment, but others might be for just a day. It
can be suuuuper flexible (perfect for students).
Here are some helpful websites! You can also
look on specific company websites for their job
postings.
» https://govolunteer.com.au
» https://www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au (look
under “for volunteers” and then “search for
volunteer roles”)
» https://www.volunteer.com.au/volunteering/
in-victoria-vic
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Uni
Want to meet some friends at uni and get involved
in social service? Joining clubs is a really good
way to do this. There are plenty that are available
for you that might help with your volunteering/
social service adventure. There are honestly so
many clubs – check out UMSU’s Clubs Listings
under Community Service on their website!
Social Justice
Politics is a big thing in Melbourne and plenty
of opportunities to get involved in marches
and political action. If this interests you, events
are often posted on Facebook and can be
found advertised within the uni on poles, in the
bathrooms, and so on. Get a JCH contingent
together & embrace your inner rebel!
Something to remember…
So all this is pretty cool to get involved in - but
it is okay to not get involved in everything. You
might feel a tad overwhelmed in a new place with
everything there is to do. So, get involved in what
you want, so long as it doesn’t sacrifice study time,
self-care and the other important things.
Good luck and have fun!
Homesickness
By Maya Hall
Preface: As I was preparing to leave, I was given the advice that courage is merely “knowing that you
have a soft place to fall, and the resources to get back up again.”
I come from Brisbane: a city that, from its first sordid breath of humidity upon my arrival, I vowed to
leave. Yet still, shortly after moving into my new home in Melbourne, I began to feel this awful longing
for the place I had sworn to hate. Homesickness crept in like a curse. I missed my family and my dog
and my mother’s cooking. I missed knowing my way around and the feeling of confidence that came
with that.
You’re more than likely going to feel this yourself to some extent. When our comfortable world suddenly
flips – a new city, new people, new system, new room, new living situation, new limitations, or lack
thereof, on our freedoms – it’s no wonder we start to feel (more than a little) overwhelmed!
Luckily, you’ve made your way into one of the most supportive, inspiring, lovely groups of people I have
yet to come across. So, let’s get you through this first rough transition so that you can thrive in the
daunting yet wonderful land you’ve entered! Here’s my advice:
1. Annoying and impractical as it may sound, 5. Create a presence for yourself. A common
try to accept and embrace the change. side-effect of homesickness is depressive
and anxious tendencies, which can see
2. Set yourself some structure: have a set time you retreating to the solitude of your room.
you’ll wake up each day, go for a walk after Perhaps choose one space and make an
lunch, plan to read in the Bage before bed. effort to spend your free time there.
Whatever floats your boat, but ensure you
have some sort of plan for the first while to 6. Continue doing the things you enjoyed at
keep you busy. home. Play your favourite sport, or bake
in the kitchenettes. Even small things like
3. Tired as you may be, put your utmost into wearing your pyjamas to breakfast, can help
making friends. Attend meals, join college- make the transition seem less harsh.
run activities, suggest outings or walks
together: the possibilities are endless. 7. Get yourself some independence: after a
4. Refrain from leaning too heavily on old- little while, you may feel the confines of the
support networks. It’s hard, but calling your college bubble. I strongly encourage you to
parents every day, or visiting home every purchase yourself a bike and take yourself
fortnight only cements your reliance on exploring.
these faraway networks. Find support in 8. Last, forgive yourself. Everybody sane is
college instead. This is a prerequisite to struck by the pains of change, but you’re
making college feel like home. where you’re meant to be: this is an
adventure and, if you got into this fantastic
college, you’re the type of person capable of
seizing this opportunity for all it’s worth.
For better or worse, you are not alone through this. So get on
out there kid, and embrace all this adventure has in store for
you! And, if ever you can’t find someone to talk to, I’m always
around so come on up and have a chat.
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