Meet Russell, one of our skilled volunteers
Russell with a board member from the Dharug Strategic Management Group (DSMG).
Russell has been volunteering with Community First Development since 2011 on multiple projects.
We reached out to Russell to ask him a few questions about his experience volunteering alongside Aboriginal communities.
You’ve been volunteering with us since 2011. What motivated you to become a volunteer with Community First Development?
I wanted to be on another Board, but thought I would ‘get my hands dirty – so I googled ‘Indigenous’ and ‘Volunteers’ and came up with ‘Indigenous Community Volunteers’[now Community First Development!] I was keen to make a practical difference and build on my experience in NZ with the Maori community, as well as some early work I had done here with the Indigenous community.
What has been your most significant learning while volunteering alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities?
Something about ‘pace’ – let the project go at its own pace, don’t ‘push’ too hard. Also – things don’t necessarily go as expected, always be prepared for the unexpected. Finally – there are some fantastic developments going on in Aboriginal communities around Australia, and some great emerging leaders.
From your experience and point of view, why is it important for First Nations’ communities to lead their own projects?
No one likes to be told what to do, especially proud Indigenous communities who have had a long history of that type of oppression. The great thing has been the willingness of community leaders to accept input and feedback, but I have always (hopefully) done this respectfully and with self-determination in mind.
Are there any stories or moments that spring to mind when thinking about your time volunteering in communities, that you’d like to share?
Chasing wild cows in outback Kimberley certainly was a hair-raising moment!
Other than that, it has been amazing to see the power and strength, especially of women in the community, their ability to put in huge efforts for their communities even though they also have huge family responsibilities. Also – the ability of many women without a lot of formal education (yet bright and intelligent), to ‘get’ strategic planning, to appreciate its value and how it can help their people.
Do you have any advice for people thinking about volunteering with Community First Development?
This is not about ‘you’, this is about making a genuine contribution to on the ground development projects. Be patient, establish your relationships, set the groundwork/framework and then develop ideas and information. Do not ‘apologise’ for your expertise, and do not be ‘afraid’ of your community contacts, but do be respectful. Find out the history of the community you are working with – what has been the ‘story’ of their interaction with “the white man”? Listen carefully!
If you’re interested in volunteering with us, or want to learn more about our volunteer placements, please visit our Volunteers page here.