Celebrating our volunteers

St Michael’s is grateful for the support of volunteers from the School community who give their time and expertise to assist in many and varied ways. Volunteers play a valuable role in supporting student endeavours and help build a sense of belonging to the School community. We spoke to two of our valued volunteers, Tamsin and Emma, who reflected on their experiences volunteering with the School. If you would like to be involved, please contact engagement@stmichaels.vic.edu.au.

Tamsin Jowett

Tamsin Jowett is President of our Parent Community Association. Before she stepped into this role in 2020, Tamsin had volunteered as a PCA Year Level Representative every year since 2013, in addition to her professional roles as a diversity coach and the President of Asperger’s Victoria. “As Year Level Representative, I really enjoyed organising gatherings for our parents and getting to know our community.” “It is so important for any student to have their parents included as part of the fabric and success of our School, supporting its values and approaches.” Tamsin enjoys being an active member of St Michael’s diverse and warm community. “Every person I have met through the School is so delightful and interesting, reflecting the School’s inclusive and positive attitude. I always thoroughly enjoy the feeling of belonging our School community exudes.” Tamsin sees the record numbers of attendees at recent PCA events as demonstrative of parents’ desire to reconnect after a very disrupted 2020. “That sense of belonging and community our PCA can provide is more important than ever.” Tamsin is proud to volunteer alongside the other members of the PCA Executive team. “The PCA Executive team are wonderful to work with – they think of how to craft parent inclusion in such detail, and with such care, supporting parents’ sense of belonging from the moment of their school acceptance.” “I love supporting St Michael’s and I’m proud of my roles in our School over the years. Volunteering gives me that ‘feelgood’ boost and the impact it can have is very rewarding.”

Emma Fasham

Emma Fasham has been volunteering with St Michael’s for several years, fulfilling the position of PCA Year Level Representative and more recently, helping to organise the Octavius Brown Kitchen Garden Working Bees, in addition to her role as Managing Director at Fasham Homes. Emma enjoys volunteering as it enables her to meet likeminded parents from across the School, feel more connected to the community, and to make a positive difference – whether in her sons’ year levels, or to our Kitchen Garden. “I think it’s important to be involved. The more you put into a community, the more you get back.” Emma's sons Oliver and Hugo are in Year 8 and Year 4 at St Michael's. Through volunteering with the PCA, Emma enjoys meeting parents from outside of these cohorts, who she may not have met otherwise. “You can connect with parents from different year levels. I’ve met some really lovely parents and made some great friendships.” On Saturday 27 March, Emma and a team of motivated and energetic volunteers worked diligently to transform the Kitchen Garden for the year ahead. “You can really see the contribution that the Working Bee makes over just a few hours.” Emma also values these opportunities to bond with other “caring and funny” members of the St Michael’s community. “St Michael’s is special because of the people who have chosen to be a part of it, who have chosen the values of the community.” St Michael’s next Kitchen Garden Working Bee is scheduled for Saturday 4 September 2021.