Volunteering validates Mark’s role

Woodridge’s Mark Farley believes combining voluntary work with paid employment can lead to greater job satisfaction because you are not simply chasing the dollar and working somewhere for the money alone.In the lead-up to National Volunteer Week next month (11 – 17 May), Mark recalls how three years ago, he began volunteering at the Spinal Injuries Association one day a week, to help with the administrative duties of the Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT).

In less than a year, Mark’s hard work and dedication to the team was rewarded and he was offered work four days a week, six hours a day, which suited his needs.

“I wanted to combine two days of voluntary work with two days paid employment so it didn’t affect my pension,” Mark said.

“But, it’s also a good example of how volunteering for an organisation can lead to a long-term career.”

After sustaining a spinal cord injury 30 years ago, Mark said he finally decided about five years ago to get back into the workforce to give his life ‘some purpose’.

“I was doing voluntary work at Volunteering Logan River Valley at that stage, interviewing potential volunteers for other organisations,” he said.

“My work there involved being exposed to other people who volunteer, which gave me an even greater level of appreciation of the vast amount of work volunteers throughout Australia carry out.”

As well as coordinating bookings for SEAT, Mark is a presenter too, which involves travelling to primary and secondary schools throughout south-east Queensland. Mark shares his story and important injury prevention messages with the students, with the ultimate aim of inspiring them to practice safe behaviour in the schoolyard and beyond.

“I really enjoy my role with SEAT because you get immediate feedback from the students and it often makes your day. They make you feel valued and you can tell from their faces that they’re really listening to what you say,” Mark said.

Mark believes people with a disability should consider doing volunteer work because it ‘gives you a better grasp on reality’.

“You’re working with other people and you are not just in your own home environment all the time, which can be unhealthy,” he said.

“Volunteering also means that while the rewards aren’t monetary, you do get immense satisfaction out of assisting people and organisations in need.

“You know you’re making a difference.”

The Spinal Injuries Association is a not-for-profit organisation established in 1960 to enhance the lives of people with a spinal cord injury.

For more information, please visit www.spinal.com.au.

Issued 29 April.