| get involved > volunteer > volunteer profiles > Ros Bradley |
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Ros Bradley has been a member of the ASC board since 2006. She is also a member of the quiz night fundraising commitee.
 Why did you get involved with ASC?
I became involved after hearing
Sylvia Winton (ex Director of the
centre) speak at my daughter’s school. Having emigrated myself to
Australia, I knew how hard it was to settle into a country. And that’s with
everything going in my favour. I
spoke English fluently, safe and secure accommodation was available and we
were relatively financially secure.
I could not imagine how people
coped facing language, accommodation and financial difficulties on top of
the unknown visa situation which so many asylum seekers face. I found it
hard to believe that some people were living a life of limbo for sometimes
up to 10 years.
It made me very angry and want
to do something, however small my contribution. Given the harsh government treatment of asylum seekers I felt the
centre was a beacon of hope and a must-have for community based asylum
seekers, so I approached Sylvia about becoming a volunteer.
What have you found meaningful about your volunteer experience with us? I have had many roles at ASC: from volunteer coordinator to receptionist and fundraising/publicity to a Board member. All have been fulfilling in their own way, particularly the direct contact with the asylum seekers themselves.
The reception role enabled me
to gain a good picture of how the centre works. Sometimes, I saw some of the
asylum seekers helping each other emotionally. I found the encouragement they offer eachother moving and humbling.
All roles have given me an
insight into people. When I joined the Board, I felt an added responsibility
to try even harder to ensure the Centre functions effectively and smoothly
despite the limitations of government laws and limited resources at ASC.
What have you gained from the experience?
I have gained an appreciation
of the human spirit and what it can endure, from both the asylum seekers
themselves and the staff at the Centre.
I have learnt about how
Government policy can affect people’s lives so extremely yet the asylum
seekers are always so very gracious and grateful for what the Centre
provides.
I have met many amazing people
- both asylum seekers, staff and volunteers. The diversity of skills and
commitment from the 80 volunteers who help regularly at the centre has
always impressed me.
I continue to enjoy the
camaraderie of working with other Board members and the annual quiz night fundraising committee knowing we are all
there trying to make a difference to people’s lives.
Sometimes I feel humbled by the
staff who are amazingly strong, loyal and stoic despite the horrendous
situations and stories they routinely need to respond to, including many
suicidal circumstances.
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