For some people, holidays mean lazy days at the beach.
For Emily Davies, 15, school holidays are a chance to give back to others.
Currently attending boarding school in Melbourne, she can’t wait to get home to Cobram outside the school term to volunteer at Irvin House.
Emily said an advertisement piqued her interest in volunteering. She’s been volunteering since December 2023.
As a volunteer, Emily’s duties are varied and always resident-focused.
“I keep the residents company, and I talk to them to help the time pass,” she said.
“I help them with eating, and I play games with them or maybe read the paper to them. I might sit there and knit and have a chat about what they used to do before they took up residence here."
The fact that Emily is volunteering at a care facility is no real surprise to anyone who knows the bright 15-year-old.
Emily is also a volunteer at Parkrun, and her school in Melbourne, Caulfield Grammar School, has a community service program that, Emily said, instils a sense of responsibility, connection and compassion in the students.
Emily also has plans to study medicine at university, so volunteering provides Emily vital experience in the health sector.
She typically commits three to four hours at Irvin House a day on weekdays during the holidays and said the best part of volunteering is helping those who, when she was younger, would have helped her had the opportunity arisen.
Emily said the support from the Irvin House staff had been great, especially during her earlier days there.
She said she wasn't overly nervous about volunteering, just excited.
“I had my hand held at the start to get me comfortable in the new environment,” she said.
For Emily, the best part about volunteering is seeing the faces of the residents when she arrives and the fact that they and the staff are happy to see her.
She said meal times were the best, as residents are all together and socialising.
“The other day, the residents had Happy Hour and had a drink and some snacks together,” Emily said.
“It’s great to see everyone come together and interact."
Stan Sutherland is one of the residents at Irvin House and said that it’s great to see Emily come in and volunteer, noting she brightens up the space.
"They (Emily and her fellow volunteers) help you out with whatever you want to do,” Mr Sutherland said.
Emily’s mother, Sarah Davies, couldn’t be prouder of her daughter and said Emily’s volunteering mutually benefits her and the residents.
“Emily gets into the car afterwards beaming,” Ms Davies said.
As for Emily, she said anyone thinking about volunteering should give it a go and that volunteers play a positive role in residents' lives.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my experience as an aged care student volunteer, and it helps me feel connected to my community," she said.