If you don’t know me, hi! I’m Angel, a volunteer with Diversity ACT, and I’m honoured to be a finalist for the 2022 Westfield Woden Local Heroes program.
Through this program, Westfield will provide Diversity ACT with a grant of up to $20,000. But the final result is based on votes, so I wanted to tell you a bit about me in the hopes it will encourage you to vote.
I want to start by saying that I’m humbled to have been nominated, and maybe even a little embarrassed. I don’t feel that the volunteer work I’ve done for Diversity ACT is all that special. Or at least, I look forward to a day when it isn’t considered unique.
About me
To give a brief history, I grew up in regional Queensland and have what, as a budding author*, I refer to as a Tragic Backstory ™. Then I was lucky to move to Canberra in 2008, in the time-honoured tradition of coming here for a graduate position with the APS.
I love Canberra. I love its openness and acceptance, especially given the highly conservative town I grew up in. I felt able to truly claim myself here, which has been an incredible journey. Realising first that I am pansexual, then that I’m non-binary.
It has taken many years and a lot of therapy, but I’ve embraced my authentic self.
As part of that, I realised that the public service wasn’t right for me anymore. I had stayed in it for ten years, partially because of the financial stability. Growing up in poverty, I feared putting my financial situation at risk.
But in 2019, I decided to make a change and move into a job in the not-for-profit (NFP) sector, working for a feminist charity. Not only was this a better fit for me, as I could be myself more at work, but it aligned with my ethics and desire to improve our community.
However, I also saw how much need there is in the NFP sector. How many charities are run with little funding and only exist because of the dedication of their staff. And the gaping holes in social supports that are failing the most vulnerable in our community.
And, of course, COVID happened.
My time with Diversity ACT
After the initial devastation of the complete change in our way of life, I found myself with significantly more free time. So in early 2021, I decided to use that time to give back. One of the first things I found was a Management Committee position at Diversity ACT.
Being a proud queer who grew up unable to acknowledge that, the mission and values of Diversity ACT called to me, and I jumped at the chance to apply. Within a few weeks, I was suddenly the Secretary, on the Communication subcommittee and Chair of the Policy and governance subcommittee!
Yeah, I don’t do things by halves.
This is the part where I know the President of Diversity ACT would tell me to claim everything I’ve done, so here it is. In less than a year, I:
- updated administration processes, including ensuring files were more accessible and improved Committee processes for efficiency
- developed a visual and written style guide for the organisation and redesigned all pamphlets, social media graphics, etc
- completely revamped the website from the ground up
- reviewed the Association Rules and proposed updates to increase inclusion for asexual people and future-proof the organisation during the challenging COVID period
- brought all the policies up to date, including undertaking a complete policy and governance review of all policies, forms, operating procedures and guiding documents, which is currently being implemented.
Yes, this took a lot of my time. I remember having a fortnight off between jobs and spending about a third of it working on Diversity ACT stuff.
But the point is that I had that time and the skills, developed through my paid employment. So I used them to help those who were in need of them.
In my view, that shouldn’t be remarkable. That should be what every person does.
My wish for the future
I look forward to a time when we each consider whether we have the capacity and relevant skills and, if so, donate them to improve our community.
We are all human. We all deserve to live in a society that embraces us, where we are brought up instead of pushed down. Where we know those around us care and support us.
I didn’t have that growing up. And I want to do my part to ensure others don’t go through some of the things I did. We don’t need to make big splashes to do that: we just need to commit what time and skills we already have.
I hope that convinced you to vote for me and Diversity ACT. And please share the message with those you think could help this incredible charity get a life-changing grant for a volunteer-run organisation.
* I have just self-published my first novel, if you like YA urban fantasy #ShamelessPlug