Michaela Meade
The EdConnect organisation trains and places volunteers into local schools, helping to support vulnerable students.
Sarah O’Reilly is a recently recruited volunteer from Doreen, who started working with Whittlesea Secondary College this year.
Ms O’Reilly provides one-on-one weekly mentoring support for a year 11 student.
She said it was fulfilling to volunteer.
“Spending time with young people as a mentor has been a rewarding and fun experience,” Ms O’Reilly said.
“I highly recommend it to anyone.
“My liaison officer, Helen, has been very supportive throughout the entire process and you have a whole community of support in EdConnect.”
Whittlesea Secondary College student wellbeing co-ordinator Stephen Macpherson said he valued the partnership with EdConnect, and Ms O’Reilly’s work.
“We are very lucky to have Sarah supporting a student one-on-one at our school,” he said.
“In these times, we recognise the importance of having additional people, assisting students who need it most, every week.”
EdConnect liaison officer Helen Anderson said the organisation’s volunteers were “amazing”.
“They give their time, they are patient and caring and with as little as an hour a week, they make a real difference,” Ms Anderson said.
“With last year being a disruptive school year, this year the extra help and support EdConnect volunteers are giving to students is more valuable and welcomed than ever before.”
Details: www.edconnectaustralia.org.au
