Meet Tracy
“Trang (“Tracy”) brings her Vietnamese heritage and a strong sense of family to her volunteering with Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS). Together with her husband and 9-year-old daughter, she regularly visits elderly residents, providing meaningful companionship and care. Trang is passionate about instilling compassion and kindness in the next generation by showing her daughter the value of helping others, fostering a love for community and a commitment to making a difference as a family.“
– Tracy
I have four years of experience in Vietnam working on community development projects to help people in need, so I understand the importance of having more helping hands. Volunteering is rewarding work, as it creates opportunities for me to socialise and learn more about the community here in South Australia, and in Australia as a whole. In addition to volunteering with MCCSA and their Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS), I have also volunteered with a No Interest Loan program, supported events at my child’s school, and assisted an accounting company.
A friend recommended I visit the SEEK employment website to find volunteering opportunities that might interest me, and that’s how I discovered MCCSA’s ACVVS. Since August 2023, my family (my husband, my daughter, and I) have been visiting Mrs Tam and Mr Minh at UnitingSA Westminster Village Aged Care.
Volunteering with MCCSA has given me the chance to socialise and connect with people in the local community. My family regularly visits Mrs Tam, a Vietnamese resident who reminds me of my grandmother, and Mr Minh, who is partially paralysed. Through these visits, we have learned more about the challenges faced by people in aged care facilities. I’ve also had the chance to teach my 9-year-old daughter about having compassion for less advantaged people. The other day, she said to me, “In 10 years, I will build a big house and take care of you.” I was so happy to hear that – not because I expect her to look after me, but because it shows me that she will grow into a thoughtful and caring individual.
Our family’s visits also help residents feel less lonely and stressed. Mrs Tam often says, “I am lucky to have you and your family over.” Although she has lived in Australia for a long time, she doesn’t speak much English, so we sometimes help her communicate with others or translate for her. Once, I helped ease Tam’s distress after she thought someone had yelled at her – when in fact, the woman was just shouting out of frustration.
We have sung “Happy Birthday” to celebrate with other residents, helped people find their way back to their rooms, and shared in many small but meaningful moments. Though my husband and I are very busy with our work – facilitating university courses (known as ‘tutors’), directing software companies, and managing different investment portfolios – we make time to volunteer. We find happiness in helping others in need, and I hope our time at MCCSA continues to nurture my daughter’s love and care for seniors and those who are vulnerable.