Happy helping others

Vol. 17, No. 4, May 2008

With National Volunteer Week from May 12 to 18, Education Views editor SIMON RADICH spoke with staff at Milpera State High School, where up to 85 volunteers each week are helping teachers give immigrant students and students of refugee backgrounds a better start in life.

What began as a way to stay busy and connected to school life in retirement has turned into a decade-long labour of love for Geoff Bartholomew.

The retired principal of Cavendish Road State High School and Corinda State High School has put his wealth of teaching experience to good use, spending the past 10 years volunteering up to five days a week at Milpera State High School in Brisbane.

As well as helping with classroom activities and baking muffins for the school tuckshop, Mr Bartholomew reads to Milpera's many refugee students as part of their Support-A-Reader program.

'We provide one-on-one support for students to help them read,' Mr Bartholomew said.

'You're working with students who often have very traumatic backgrounds, so one-on-one assistance is vital. I try to work there every day as it's important to have that continuity with the students to make sure I'm using the right texts and strategies.'

Mr Bartholomew said over the past decade he'd seen the demographic of the school shift, changing the level and type of support required.

'When I first came here most of the refugee students were from former Yugoslavia and were at least literate in their native tongues, and many had some secondary school education,' he said.

'Now most come from African countries and their life circumstances are very different. Some have never been to school before. But I've found these students are some of the most motivated and hardworking students I've come across.'

Motivated and hardworking are two words that also apply to Mr Bartholomew. As well as helping out at Milpera, he volunteers with Rotary, Meals on Wheels and his local junior cricket club. He also reads and records material for the vision impaired.

'It's a bit corny but I believe real happiness comes from helping others,' he said.

From all walks of life

Acting principalHelen Byrne said with 40 different cultures and nationalities at Milpera and 58 per cent of students from refugee backgrounds, volunteers like Mr Bartholomew were essential for supplying enhanced programs for students.

'We're set up as a school to provide settlement support and intensive English for students who have recently arrived in Australia on humanitarian or immigrant visas , and we help prepare them for mainstream high schools,' Ms Byrne said.

Volunteers in the Support-A-Reader program are given training to help them model good literacy practices to students, including reading with students in small groups. Volunteers undertake other tasks too, including helping with the school's breakfast program and giving general classroom support.

'We have volunteers from all walks of life who come from across Brisbane,' Ms Byrne said.

'We have past students, people from the diverse cultural communities, university students and retired people who just want to help out in the settling and education of refugees. They get a lot out of it but our students benefit the most.'

Young volunteers

Volunteering Queensland CEO Di Morgan said National Volunteers Week was a great chance to highlight the volunteer and community work of students.

'We often hear negative stuff about students and young people but what the week emphasises is that young people enjoy getting involved in community activities and projects,' Ms Morgan said.

'The highest proportion of volunteers in Queensland and Australia is in the 18 to 25-year-old age group.'

Ms Morgan said Volunteering Queensland was about to launch a schools program that recognised senior students who worked in the community.

'It's a Certificate II course and it contributes to the Queensland Certificate of Education. Volunteering Queensland is providing all the material and registered training officers.'

Ms Morgan said there were more than one million volunteers in Queensland, with a recent government report estimating their value to be worth about $16 billion a year.

For more information, visit Volunteering Queensland website

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