Shi Kwok Li volunteers at Uniting AgeWell Noble Park Community for a simple reason: “I love bringing happiness and laughter to the residents,” she explains.
In her role volunteering with the Lifestyle Team for the last 10 years she continues to do just that. In spades.
She is also one of the many people who started off volunteering at Uniting AgeWell and ended up being employed with us! After all, you’ve got to have a good heart to volunteer, and kindness is one of our five values.
Shi is originally from Hong Kong and migrated to Australia in 1990 with her husband and her two daughters.
Although Shi has never regretted moving to Australia, she still has strong links with her homeland. Her two daughters are now living back in Hong Kong, as well as her two grandchildren, her brothers and sister and many friends. She visits Hong Kong whenever she has a chance.
When Shi arrived in Australia, she stayed at home to look after her family and it was only when their daughters graduated from university, that Shi decided to pursue her own studies.
Shi had worked in a factory after leaving primary school, then studied while working and became an office accounts clerk. But after raising her children, she decided she wanted a role that involved caring, so she chose to study Aged Care. She also did an English course, but found it difficult to find a job.
One day she dropped into Noble Park Community to see if there were any job vacancies. Unfortunately, there were only volunteer positions available. So Shi decided to work three days a week as a volunteer in the Lifestyle Team - and the rest is history.
It was not long after this that Shi was offered a casual position as a personal carer. She combined volunteering and working for quite a few years, but now has cut back and only volunteers one day per week with the Lifestyle Team.
Shi likes helping and talking to the residents. She says they both learn a lot from each other. Shi especially loves chatting to residents in their native language especially Cantonese or in a similar dialect.
Shi has often remarked that volunteering at Noble Park has enriched her life. She has also learned how to garden at home, loves meeting people from the four corners of the world and has learned a lot about the Australian way of life.
Find out more about volunteering