Volunteers

Volunteers are the life’s blood of Lou’s.  Not merely a cost effective means of increasing staffing levels, our volunteers build a bridge to the wider community and provide a crucial network of supporters and resources for this women’s refuge.

Through our wonderful volunteers, including the pro bono lawyers, nurse and doctor, Lou’s Place is a unique Sydney charity that can provide a wide range of specialist services and programs to address the many problems confronting our clients.

Lou’s Place has about 55 volunteers on the roster at any time.  To find out more about the different types of volunteer positions or to apply to volunteer yourself, please enquire here.

Specialist services provided pro bono:

Doctor – Dr Bronwyn Gould

Nurse – Pearl Price

Lawyer

Generalist Volunteers:

Main co-ordinator: Julie Gardiner

Our gratitude to all our cooks and helpers, who number over 40.

Specialist volunteers:

Main co-ordinator: Carol Berg

Art – Judy Lane and Susan Carrasco

Cooking – Giovanna Gromo

Creative Writing – Sally Gibbons and Alice Parsons

Easy Art Collage – Jenny Quist, Cleone Woods and Debbie Bonnet

Jewellery Making – Susie McIntosh and Xanga Connelley

Music – Carol Berg, Sophie Sarafino and Rebecca Fitzpatrick

Sewing – Fran Roberts, Lucy Jones and Lillace Burrows

Yoga-Carolyn Bowra

EXPERIENCES OF BEING A VOLUNTEER AT LOU’S

Judy:

Working as a volunteer at Lou’s has opened my mind to the complexities of being human. As a volunteer I just try to “be there” for the women, to really listen to them, to accept them for who they are and hopefully for them to accept me. Volunteering at Lou’s Place can be daunting, confronting and tiring but mainly it is uplifting and enlightening. As one woman said to me recently, “Here women support women and that is what helps us all”.

Lisa, Barbie and Janet:

Monday mornings at Lou’s Place are hectic, happy and challenging. Greetings all round, coffee cups, clients asking “what’s for lunch?”, cosy chats, sometimes dramas, the constant hum of the washing machine and dryer.

We recognise how far removed Lou’s Place and its clients are from our predictable and comfortable suburban lives. What stays with us always- even after 2 years- is a feeling of satisfaction that by cooking, cleaning and chatting we’ve made a difference that morning at least.