Volunteers strengthen local communities and make a real difference to the lives of others.
Carinity’s volunteers have a positive impact on people in residential aged care, schools, community and disability services, and through chaplaincy services including Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy.
On International Volunteer Day on December 5 we acknowledge our dedicated contributors including Melody (pictured with an Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy supporter).
Through her volunteer role with Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy, Melody has visited a correctional centre once a week for the past two years.
“I really wanted to be involved in some sort of evangelistic work, and the idea of prison chaplaincy popped into my head,” Melody said.
Melody says while prisons are a “vicious spiritual battle ground”, she relishes supporting people in prison “with the compassion of Jesus”.
“I love having one-on-one conversations with the women, both at a deep, spiritual level, but also just generally getting to know them,” she said.
“The biggest challenges for me are seeing the pain that some women are in, and the difficulty of their circumstances.
“Women particularly love to talk as a way to debrief, and process what has happened to them. We need to listen to them, and let them tell their stories.”
Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy currently has several opportunities to provide pastoral care and chapel services in correctional centres across the Brisbane, Ipswich, Fraser Coast, Central Queensland, and North Queensland regions.
Anyone interested in volunteering with Inside Out Prison Chaplaincy can find more information on our website.