Category: Young Person (under 25)
Recipient: Reginald Hodges
Background
Reg is a 21 year old Torres Strait Islander man with a moderate intellectual disability, cognitive impairment and autism. Seeking to avoid a sheltered workshop, and keen to work with the indigenous community, Reg commenced as a volunteer with Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) in 2008.
Scope of Work
Reg undertakes a wide range of tasks at ICV, including office and field-based activities. His work includes cleaning, office tidying, recycling, vacuuming and mail collection. Reg assists with mail-outs to volunteers, collects stationary from suppliers, hand delivers documents to clients and prepares the folders for volunteers’ cross-cultural training. He is also part of the team that delivers ICV cross-cultural training and he participates in ceremonial activities such as the opening of new facilities.
Impact on the Community
Reg has a major impact on everyone he meets, and his warm and generous spirit is a gift for all ICV staff, volunteers and the wider community. Perhaps most importantly, Reg provides new volunteers with a reality check about what it is like to be a Torres Strait Islander man living in a city. His warm human spirit has an immediate and visible impact on volunteers and other stakeholders.
Time Dedicated
Having started at half a day per week, Reg has steadily increased his volunteering hours. ICV hopes that he will achieve an average of five days per week in the near future.
Effort Required
Reg has overcome tremendous challenges to volunteer at ICV. Examples include catching a taxi for the first time, staying at home alone, and gaining in confidence until he could use elevators, find his way around the building, and move independently from the office to the street.