The warmth and welcoming feel at Camden Community Centre hits you as soon as you see the venue – an attractive cottage front with a well-kept garden, a light-filled reception room with native animal prints on the walls and above all the friendly greetings from staff and volunteers. Nearly all providers of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) engage volunteers as an essential component of the workforce where appropriate, and Camden Community Centre is no different.  

We meet Karin and Phillip, who are retired from the paid workforce and continue to work for the community, racking up some 12 years of combined volunteer service between them at Camden Community Service in the Community Connection program. Phillip drives the Centre bus to collect older residents and deliver them back home, as well as other volunteer roles; Karin attends to preparing the Reed Room for the day’s program participants and assisting them with their activities. Lovely spring flowers, name tags, prepared water, white table all together give the appearance of a high-end venue ready to give a day’s entertainment for the Seniors, and for them to feel valued and connected. Puzzles, quizzes, craft and other activities might have a special theme – depending on the season and the day – and today that theme is Spring.