Tara Murray
“Anyway, I can help the community is always good.”
It’s not hard to see why Keilor Downs College year 12 student Kayla Parker is making her mark in the volunteering world.
Passionate about helping those around her, Parker was earlier this year named the Brimbank young citizen of the year.
She is now a finalist for the Victorian young achiever awards which are held next month.
“The Vic young achiever award, that was huge,” she said.
“I still don’t know who nominated me for it. When I first got the email saying I had been nominated and selected as a semi finalist, I was like wow and kind of had to take a step back.
“It was a huge thing and to be recognised in the whole of victoria when there’s so many amazing and inspiring people who are doing so much for their own communities, to be recognsied amongst them for all the work they do in the community.:
Parker has been involved in many programs and volunteering programs despite still being in her teens.
She has been involved with the Western Bulldogs’ leadership program for two years and has been involved in Brimbank council’s youth leadership program.
Kayla has also been part of the student voice program at her high school since she was in year seven and was awarded the ADF Long Tan Youth Leadership & Teamwork Award.
She also used to volunteer at an animal refugee shelter with her sister and has done some campaigning about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, which she has.
Parker has been part of the St Johns Ambulance for the last four years, which has only recommitted her passion to helping people.
“Because I want to get into para-nursing my cousin actually messaged my mum that something came up on her Facebook page about St Johns and their cadet program and said this is something that Kayla should do,” she said.
“I went to the first meeting they did, we do meetings every Thursday night which are just training days
“I remember going to the first one and immediately felt at home, being surrounded by so many like minded people
“You learn so much from all the adults who help and train you and it’s really good. I definitely recommend it, I want to continue on with it.”
Parker doesn’t let her condition, which means her joints easily dislocate, stop her, saying she just finds ways around it.
Not surprisingly, Parker is keen to continue volunteering into the future.
“Hopefully in the future I can volunteer or work with Starlight Foundation, maybe the Red Cross. I’m currently looking at the sunshine hospital, they have volunteer programs and see where that takes me.”
