AUSTRALIAN Catholics emerging from restrictions after COVID who were looking for ways to re-engage with their brothers and sisters globally were celebrating the return to overseas volunteering through groups like Palms Australia.
Michele Rankin from Mt Gravatt East took on a two-year placement at the Balibo Community Learning Centre in 2016 through Palms Australia.
After that experience, she returned in 2019 with her daughter Gabby.
COVID forced them to return to Brisbane but now that borders had re-opened, Ms Rankin was returning to Balibo with Gabby’s twin sister Anjelica to undertake another two year placement.
“Being a Palms volunteer is to become a member of the host community and we are so lucky to be able to experience this life changing challenge,” Ms Rankin said.
“We have gained a profound understanding of a larger Church and helping others is spiritually fulfilling.
“There is a lot of injustice in this world and a lot of marginalisation but there is also a lot of hope.
“If we are able to serve others and help share Christ’s love to the world, we can contribute to changing this world just a little”.
Palms Australia executive director Roger O’Halloran said reaching beyond “our own small world is so important to the mutual development of communities here and abroad”.
“Australians who respond to the call to share their skills, to mentor those with little other opportunity, get to immerse themselves in resilient communities and learn from their wisdom,” he said.
Placements began with a request from an overseas community who identified developments that would foster and build on the strengths of their people.
Looking to develop health, education, technical trade and administrative skills, the communities ask Palms to find appropriately qualified and experienced Australians who might volunteer to assist.
The model used was one of “mutual growth”.
“While we have an obligation to share with those who live with less we have at least as much to learn,” Mr O’Halloran said.
“More Australians responding again to the many requests from Catholic communities abroad allows us to rediscover alternatives to the western development model that has taken us down a path of unsustainable resource depletion and damaging climate change.”
To find out more about the work of Palms Australia, visit palms.org.au
