Carer Hub Development Plans

Arafmi Volunteer Profile: Helen As part of National Volunteer Week (19–25 May), Arafmi Communications Officer Lilly Provenzano sat down with one of our volunteers, Helen, to reflect on her experience as a carer support group facilitator. 1. What motivated you to become a support group facilitator at Arafmi?I had been attending support groups for five to six years, participating as a carer myself. I was inspired. I have much admiration for them and observed the facilitators and staff clearly during this time. They were so clever and kind navigating big groups and people in trauma. The opportunity arose so I put my hand up. 2. Can you describe what typical support group sessions look like?Typically, they are varied in age, gender and circumstance. At my group, we see parents, serving long-term partners, sometimes both parents – different dynamics. Every support group session has an informal welcome, a check-in for newbies and then the more practical things like name badges. We welcome people, there are beverages. We do an Acknowledgement to Country.We spend time explaining the guidelines that the two-hour conversations operate under. We may talk about the time that every person gets to share – that there is no interrupting.

Arafmi Volunteer Profile: Margaret As part of National Volunteer Week (19–25 May), Arafmi Communications Officer Lilly Provenzano sat down with one of our volunteers, Margaret, to reflect on her experience as a group facilitator of one of our Brisbane carer support groups. 1. What motivated you to become a support group facilitator at Arafmi?I have been to support groups for years, maybe 16–17 years in the same group. It’s moved from place to place over the years. I was offered to facilitate a group as a natural progression with staff and participants.It’s an amazing group of people. The organisation itself is a treasure. I wanted to join Arafmi as it drew me in and plays a valuable role in society. It’s the values of the Arafmi team that really encouraged me to remain. You can get a job anywhere but to live and breathe values is unique. I am grateful for the people, grateful for the leadership and have a lot of faith in the wonderful CEO who leads from the front. 2. Can you describe what a typical support group session looks like?There can be a new member or the same group of people at Inner Brisbane. It’s a