The start of a new year often marks the start of new beginnings, goals and for those looking to find a meaningful way of giving back – an opportunity to fulfill a resolution as a volunteer.
Red Nose Australia celebrates the significant role our volunteers play. Volunteers help us in our mission to save little lives and support grieving families. From peer support, to community volunteers, to fundraising, to helping us at parenting expos, or simply knitting, sewing, or crafting in our Treasured Babies Program – our hundreds of volunteers contribute so much to Red Nose. Many give their precious time and effort to support bereaved families after the loss of a little one.
Our volunteers are people like Hayley Reeves and Jacinta Ryan, who turned their unimaginable child loss into a powerful force for good.
Volunteering for Red Nose not only provided Hayley and Jacinta the support they needed as bereaved mothers, but it also strengthened their friendship and paved the way for a support network for the remote community of Normanton in far north Queensland.
“Knowing personally how many people within our community had been affected by loss, I felt it was significant to acknowledge people’s journeys and create an atmosphere where they felt comfortable to come together,” says Hayley.
Jacinta Ryan’s own experience of losing baby Keeley to stillbirth, and being inspired by a supportive community, led her to join forces with Hayley.
“We wanted to give back to the community that had supported and continue to support us through our grief journeys,” says Jacinta.
“The support from the community was amazing and the gratitude from the Red Nose team made us feel valued and supported as volunteers,” says Jacinta.
Many of our volunteers also tell us that volunteering is a meaningful way for them to give back to the organisation that helped them through the pain and difficulty of their own losses. Volunteering allows them to pay it forward so future families have access to the same caring peer support.
Quotes attributable to Keren Ludski, CEO, Red Nose Australia
“If you’ve been inspired by Jacinta and Hayley, joining our volunteer team at Red Nose can help nourish your new year by building new connections, new friends and building supportive networks.”
“I’d like to thank our hundreds of Red Nose volunteers who give their time so generously to our programs and those on our 24/7 Grief and Loss Support Line. It is because of their incredible generosity that we are able to provide support to thousands of families around Australia. We are so grateful to you.”
Register to Volunteer or attend our upcoming Volunteer Information Sessions
The Red Nose Grief and Loss Support Line is available 24/7 for anyone affected by pregnancy loss, stillbirth or the death of a baby or child on 1300 308 307.
Media contact: Maria Salvador at mariasalvador@rednose.org.au or call 0402 941 493.