Lauren volunteered as at an outdoor camp and in the community in Australia
My placement was incredible & unique in the sense that I didn’t know anyone else who has had an experience like mine. I went to Australia expecting to be working with children in outdoor education camps. However, it was so much more than that! We spent time creating and building the camp, having the first ever camp at Camp Marysville, running camps virtually on our own, helping with other areas including taking children on trips into the wilderness, as well as helping behind the scenes. We also spent a lot of time volunteering in the local community and felt wholly embraced by them.
I have learnt a great deal about construction work…surprisingly! Also, flexibility, real hard work, working with both adults and children. As well as working in the outdoors and in sometimes uncontrollable environments.
Knowing that I helped to create something that could potentially be there in decades is one of the most incredible feelings in the world. Knowing we will be remembered and people enjoyed working with us. I made friends for life. And being the first ever Lattitude volunteer at the camp knowing what we did will influence volunteers for work to come is fantastic!
In many aspects the community was similar to home. However, 4 years earlier the town had been ravaged by bush fires and was still on the mend. Seeing a community come together and embrace us as volunteers while still repairing their homes was inspirational.
I look at my home town differently now. Being away from home has opened up my eyes and I see things at home in a different way- The smallest things like being only a 10 minute bus ride from the nearest city - instead of 3 hours!
I want to teach, but I want to use as much outside the classroom as possible. The aboriginal communities have inspired how I may teach.
I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I loved every second, and miss it so much! There are only 6 other people in the world who truly know what I experienced, and they are the people I experienced it with. I would recommend doing a placement like this to anyone who I prepared to work incredibly hard - but there is nothing more rewarding!
Find out more about volunteering in Australia
