She’s a smiling face and a warm welcome for people in need, and for AnglicareSA Emergency Assistance service volunteer Rosie, simply being there for someone else is her driving motivation.
A volunteer at the Magdalene Centre since 2022, Rosie’s journey to AnglicareSA is one of giving and community support, having this year been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the arts and to the community.
She has run an art gallery, was Executive Director of the prestigious Fleurieu Art Prize, volunteered writing biographies for palliative care patients at the Calvary Hospital Hospice, and has been the Chair of the Board of theatre company Brink Productions – but it was a postgraduate degree in psychology that brought Rosie to AnglicareSA.
“I went and did the psychology degree because I was trying to learn more about what makes people tick really,” Rosie said. “But then I wanted to put that knowledge to use as a volunteer.”
Rosie joined AnglicareSA’s Emergency Assistance service which provides food, support, and advocacy for South Australian individuals and families in need.
And with a worsening cost-of-living crisis it’s a service that is needed now more than ever before.
“My role is interviewing clients that come in,” Rosie said. “No matter their background, I just chat with them about what supports and services they need.
“We support them with more direct and immediate things like food, clothing, bus tickets, or vouchers for Foodbank, but we’re also able to offer much more like bedding, assistance with access to cheaper eyeglasses or medicine prescriptions, or even help organising dental appointments.
“When you work with a client and see the difference it makes having someone to listen to them and support them in accessing what they need – it’s very rewarding.”
“Growing up and through life I have been fortunate to be blessed with the people that surrounded me and this (volunteering) is something that I can do to give back.”
As for the OAM, Rosie said it was a shock when she found out, believing there were more worthy people in the community.
For Rosie, volunteering is simply a way of paying it forward.
“I feel I have been a very lucky person in my life,” Rosie said. “I have always been surrounded by love, the men in my life have always been very caring and respectful of women.
“Growing up and through life I have been fortunate to be blessed with the people that surrounded me and this (volunteering) is something that I can do to give back.”
Are you interested in volunteering?
At AnglicareSA, we’re proud to have around 300 volunteers who give their time to support people in need. Volunteers are an integral part of our support services — their generosity and commitment enable us to deliver a broad range of services to the South Australian community.
Register our interest here, or alternatively view our current volunteer opportunities here.