The power of volunteering

• Volunteers recognised by new annual volunteer awards
• Winners announced in IRT’s six regions
• Nominees judged in terms of contribution to residents’ lives
• IRT’s Volunteer Program ensures volunteers feel valued and rewarded

Award nominees were judged in terms of their contribution to the lives of IRT residents.

IRT has 800 volunteers and the Volunteer Program is designed to ensure that IRT’s volunteers feel valued and rewarded.

Winners were announced in each of IRT’s six regions – four in NSW (Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla and Sydney), one in Queensland and one in the ACT.

Tricia Hooi-Crispe - Sydney region winner

Tricia Hooi-Crispe gets as much out of volunteering as the residents she entertains and speaks to each week at IRT Berala on the Park.

“Working as a volunteer really helped me to recover,” she explains.

Two years ago Tricia was struggling with depression and had to stop working.

“I was quite down with depression and I was housebound for four months,” she explains.

It was during her recovery that Tricia took the steps to engage with IRT Berala on the Park and embark on her volunteering journey with the Community.

At IRT Berala on the Park Tricia volunteers her time one morning a week where she plays music for the residents. “When I play the piano the residents clap and sing along,” she says.

She also spends time talking with the Community’s Cantonese-speaking residents, helping them to keep culturally and linguistically connected to their community.

Her work with IRT saw her recognised as the Sydney – Volunteer of the Year Award Winner – as part of the inaugural IRT Volunteer Awards during National Volunteer Week in May.