For AnglicareSA volunteer-turned-employee Prerna, it has been a whirlwind couple of months.
In the space of six months, she moved to Australia, married, and started volunteering within AnglicareSA’s Community Aged Care team, before securing full-time work within the same team.
Being new to Australia, Prerna viewed volunteering as a way to learn about and immerse herself in Australian culture.
“Volunteering wasn’t just about giving back – it also became a key part of my integration into Australian life,” Prerna said.
With more than a decade of experience as a data analyst, Prerna knew she had skills that could help support AnglicareSA’s administration processes in aged care.
“Volunteering in administration allowed me to use my skill set to help others,” she said.
“My skills in data analytics translated well into maintaining accurate records or identifying ways to streamline tasks, with the end goal being to improve service delivery for our customers.”
Prerna had been volunteering for two months when she saw a paid position posted on AnglicareSA’s internal vacancies job board. With the support and encouragement of Volunteer Coordinator Sadie Sandery, Prerna applied and got the job.
Prerna said her time volunteering provided her with a new set of skills and a deeper appreciation for how AnglicareSA supported older people, which had been beneficial in helping her adjust to her new role.
“The skills I developed during volunteering, such as understanding the needs of aged care customers and supporting the team in administrative tasks, prepared me for this transition into paid work,” she said.
“As a new migrant, there were challenges – adapting to a new work culture and building a network from scratch. But through volunteering and working at AnglicareSA, I have met incredible people and felt a sense of belonging.”
Prerna said she hadn’t just professionally developed during her time with AnglicareSA, but also personally.
“It’s given me the chance to integrate into my new community, apply my skills in meaningful ways, and make a real difference,” she said.
Are you interested in volunteering in aged care?
With the number of Australians over 85 expected to double over the next decade, it’s no secret more aged care workers and volunteers are needed to keep up with the demand for care and support.
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.
We have a wide range of volunteer opportunities across our residential and community aged care services, including:
For information about our current volunteer opportunities, click here.