On Saturday, Palms Australia concluded our 100th orientation course. We are pleased to announce all five participants enjoyed the course and we at Palms are ready for the 101st course, which will take place in January, 2019.
There were five participants in this course, two of whom have committed themselves to a placement overseas. Laura Saldanha is a physiotherapist from Perth who will be working with The Ruben Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. She will be setting off in just two weeks to start her year-long assignment supporting the Centre’s occupational therapist to improve community access to the Centre’s services. Read more about Laura’s placement.
Bridget Kennelly is a secondary school teacher from South Australia who will be working with Immaculate Heart College in South Tarawa, Kiribati. Bridget has travelled to the small island before and is excited to spend two years as an English teacher and a mentor to local teachers. Read more about Bridget’s placement.
Of course, you don’t need to be heading out on a placement to complete our orientation courses. Three of our participants completed the course while still considering where and when they may volunteer abroad. Adriana Silva is a TESOL teacher from Queensland who is still discerning where she may volunteer with Palms. Primary teacher Ivey Panicker from Melbourne is also contemplating potential placements. Ivey said of the course that it was a ‘most enriching experience for everyone’. If you are not sure which Palms placement is right for you, or you think you may want to volunteer in the future, attending an orientation is a great way to explore this option without any commitment to accepting a placement.
We wish to thank all of our supporters and volunteers, past and present, who have helped Palms complete 100 orientation courses. Without your contribution we would not be celebrating this significant milestone. With your ongoing support, be it through membership, volunteering in the office, volunteering abroad, or joining us at events, we look forward to completing at least 100 more courses in the future.