Oonah Belonging Place engages with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community through programs, events, activities and services that encourage cultural connections.
Oonah assists Community members to access culturally appropriate and safe healthcare services, social and emotional wellbeing as well as Community engagement events and activities .
A number of Volunteers are vital in supporting its programs, with these wonderful selfless people integral to the success of the popular food security program ‘Tuckerbag’.
Events and activities include weekly Men’s Group; Young Women’s groups/Homework Centre; Youth Club; Playgroup; Earth Heart Spirit program; Weaving group and our Food security program called Tuckerbag.
Their commitment each week to help collect food from Foodbank and Supermarkets in the area, enables the organisation to feed many families within the community that are finding it hard to make ends meet.
A number of volunteers help Oonah by working with to bring this program together.
One group that has regularly come to Oonah to help out are young people from Interchange Outer East along with their carers.
Their help is invaluable and they put a smile on all our faces with their cheery disposition and willingness to help, and we would thank them for their commitment and energy.
Two of Oonah’s long staying Volunteers who help every week in the Tuckerbag program are Cheryl Matthews and Leanne Henderson.
They have worked alongside Oonah staff for many years, giving two days each week to put together parcels for families.
Steve Crozier is another old hand at volunteering and much appreciated for his years of service at Oonah.
When asked why he volunteers he said, “I enjoy helping community and doing something that’s not only rewarding but keeps me out of mischief. I enjoy engaging with other volunteers and Oonah staff as well as those that work at Foodbank.”
Volunteer and new kid on the block Andrew Cheetham said he loves helping out at Oonah.
“It’s extremely enjoyable and rewarding to be giving back to community as well as working with great people, and learning new skills at the same time,” he said.
Oonah appreciates the wonderful contribution that Volunteers make to support our programs and activities and the organisation welcomes the opportunity to focus on them and acknowledge them on National Volunteer week.
