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Upcoming Seminars
Volunteer Network: Support & Self Care
ABOUT THE EVENT
Join us for a free volunteer event, exploring how our efforts are impacting our community, how we can improve our dementia awareness, and how we can bring physical touch into our senior care and personal care. A chance to meet fellow volunteers and share both a meal and your experiences together. Family and friends who are interested in our work and potentially becoming a volunteer with us are also encouraged and welcome to attend.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday, 9th May 2026
Time: 10.30am – 2.00pm
Location: William St Family Therapy Centre, Upstairs Conference Room, 544 William St, Mount Lawley WA 6050
Invitees
Open to all our current volunteers and any friend or family member who is interested in our volunteer opportunities.
OUR CEO GUEST SPEAKERS
Mary Gurgone - AfCAS Chair
Mary is the AfCAS chair and committed to positive social change. Her contributions have spanned government, private sector, and community roles. Widely acknowledged for her ability to facilitate and build strong relationships between diverse individuals, she is dedicated to achieving sustained, conscientious, and beneficial community growth.
Presentation: Volunteer Resources
Along with facilitating the whole event, Mary will be explaining the resources available to new and existing volunteers. While these may be obvious to some, this will be a chance to address how best to utilise what is available. She will also be communicating how AfCAS aims to support our volunteers and their seniors throughout their visits and beyond.
Samgiita Hope - Heart2Heart Dementia Doula and educator
Samgiita Hope is a Heart2Heart Dementia Doula and educator based in Perth, walking alongside carers and professionals with a gentle, human-centred approach to dementia care. With over 20 years of experience, she brings a focus to dignity, connection, and presence, supporting others to move beyond tasks and into more meaningful, compassionate care and presence.
Presentation: Dementia with Dignity
The Dementia with Dignity presentation is aimed at helping us understand why and how we can move beyond doing, and recognising how presence, awareness, and who we are shape the quality of each interaction for the person experiencing Dementia.
Luisa Rizzi - AfCAS's Volunteer
As a Volunteer Visitor, safety, respect, and privacy are Luisa’s guiding principles. She deeply enjoys dedicating her time to seniors with warm, attentive support, helping them through light, enjoyable activities while adapting to their routines and preferences. She cultivates a trusting relationship, built on consistency, attentive listening, and kindness.
Presentation: Supporting links between young volunteers and seniors
Hear about how recently, beyond usual visits, four bright young teenagers from Mount Lawley High School have been nominated for a Duke of Edinburgh Award program. As part of that program, each week, for an hour, they join Luisa during visits, bringing cheerful energy as they accompany and engage Luisa’s two Italian seniors with light activities and conversation. They often spend time in the gardens the seniors help nurture, and sometimes the girls introduce music, playing the guitar and piano.
Teniele Gabriel - AfCAS's Intern
Teniele is currently interning with AfCAS, learning about our goals, roles, and vision. A current student at UWA, she has previously studied massage and grew up with a naturopath mother who embedded in her an understanding and appreciation for physical touch as a comforting and healing art.
Presentation: Power of a Gentle Touch
Following a short foray into some current research around massage and the elderly, explore the joy of massage and learn how to both give and receive a hand massage. This is a gentle and supportive way to improve feelings of support, trust, and care, and reduce feelings of stress, agitation, and worry.
What to bring
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Your handbook (either digital or physical),
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A notebook and pen,
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A friend or family member interested in volunteering with us,
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Your friendly smile
TICKET INFORMATION
This is a free event, but we do ask that you register your attendance below.