2025-11-07
In this edition, we are delighted to introduce a new series shining a light on our generous and inspiring volunteers
Simone Collins has volunteered with Greens WA for decades, contributing countless hours across diverse roles. For her, volunteering is a meaningful family tradition and way of life that supports a better world. Her career versatility has developed in symbiosis with her volunteer experience, with skills gained across both, cross-pollinating to enrich her impact. Her skills, steady commitment, and generosity of spirit make her a highly valued member of the Greens WA family! We asked Simone to share some of her story and reflections on what volunteering means to her.
1. Could you tell us a little about yourself and how you first became involved with Greens WA?
I've lived in the Burt area most of my life, growing up surrounded by natural bush in the Armadale hills. I'm a single parent to two teens, and the three of us plus our 19-year-old-cat live in a rented home in Canning Vale (which has now reverted to being in Tangney). I rented in the western suburbs while studying and working at UWA, and spent 6 months in Argentina, where my children's father is from. I thrive on variety. I've held down two or more jobs and tertiary study in wildly different areas at the same time for most of my life. I've worked in the public, private, and non-profit sectors, largely in IT, but also in administration, retail, health, marketing, and education. Currently I'm self-employed as a music teacher and freelance web developer.
I've voted Greens for all except my very first election at 18. My children are my reason for joining The Greens. I was spurred to sign up as a member when I was pregnant with my eldest daughter, Ariana, wanting to step up working to bring about systemic change. I'd been very actively volunteering with Rotary at an international level for many years, but felt that a lot of what Rotary was doing was band-aiding situations that really need to be addressed at the governmental level. It was a full circle moment when Ariana ran as a Greens candidate in the recent State election, having joined the Greens the day she turned 16.
2. What motivates you to keep giving your skill, time and energy to this work?
There's still so much that needs to be addressed, and it feels like we're going backwards in a lot of areas, so it's more important than ever to keep going. Personally, the climate crisis has detrimentally affected my children's mental health, giving them little hope for their future. Housing is insane ‒ my rent has doubled since covid, and there's no way my children can afford to move out with friends like I did while I was at uni. The situation in Gaza is unfathomable. To name just a few things! This isn't the world I want. Sitting back and doing nothing is not an option.
3. What roles have you done as a volunteer and what aspects of volunteering do you most enjoy?
Within the Greens, I've volunteered at every election since I joined, first just handing out how-to-vote cards, and setting up and packing down booths, and gradually increasing that commitment to running as a candidate in Federal, State and local government elections and managing campaigns in Burt and surrounding state electorates. I've held nearly every office bearer role in my regional group, actively participate in a number of working groups, and was an ECC Co-Convenor along with Dave Worth for the most recent State and Federal elections. Outside the Greens, I've likewise held a wide variety of volunteer and leadership roles at a local, state, national and international level.
What I enjoy most is relationship building, both amongst volunteers and with the wider community. There's nothing better than working with like-minded people on a common cause.
4. Is there a volunteering time, project, campaign, or moment that you feel especially proud of, or a favourite memory you have?
Within the Greens, one of the main moments I've been proud of was having a team of 10 people go out on our first ever door knock in Thornlie when I was the candidate for Burt in 2019. We struggle to get volunteers out our way, particularly since our seats tend to be low priorities, so hitting double digits on a door knock team was a huge milestone.
5. What have you learned or gained personally through volunteering?
There have been so many personal benefits. Enduring friendships not just locally but globally. Immense satisfaction through making a tangible difference. The personal and professional development I've gained through volunteering has been invaluable. I'm grateful that a number of people have tapped me on the shoulder to step up into leadership roles that I'd never have considered otherwise. I do my best to pay that forward. What I've gained through volunteering has utterly shaped who I am.
6. What does community mean to you in the context of volunteering with WA Greens?
In one respect, community is like-minded people from all walks of life who share common goals and causes ‒ other Greens members and supporters. But it's also the people who live in our local area who don't necessarily think the same way, but experience the same issues, the people we get to meet while door knocking, on booths, at community events, who we can have conversations with. Either way, there's some degree of commonality, and finding that helps bring us together.
7. What inspired you to volunteer in the first place? Was there a person or experience that inspired your decision?
I grew up in a family where volunteering was a way of life. My parents were heavily involved in Rotary, and as a doctor, my Dad also volunteered for a number of health-related organisations. His Rotary service included volunteering overseas, and where it was safe to do so, we travelled with him, which exposed me first-hand to poverty and other issues that we just don't experience here in Australia. Even on these "safer" trips, we got caught up in a military coup in the Philippines, where buildings near us were bombed, and experienced a category 10 typhoon in Hong Kong while my parents volunteered in a refugee camp for a month. Both of those experiences were pivotal to my drive to help create a better world. I'd decided as a child that I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps. I started volunteering through Rotary in my late teens.
8. How do you balance volunteering with other parts of your life?
Volunteering has always been intertwined with practically every other part of my life. Volunteering in the same organisations as family members keeps us in near daily contact. Friends I've made through volunteering become people I socialise with, especially when there are other common interests, like music! Rotary uses the term "vocational service" for using your workplace skills and networks as part of your volunteer work, and while I've been able to try out and further refine new skills like aspects of digital marketing in pro bono projects for organisations I volunteer with, I've found it works both ways. In volunteering, I've received training and developed leadership and practical skills, like bookkeeping in treasurer roles, that have in turn helped my own professional life. I've volunteered in the unions and professional associations related to my career, and that has in turn expanded my networks and broadened my opportunities. Likewise, I have volunteered on the P&C and school boards, which has helped engage deeper with my children's schooling. Also, balancing it all also requires ensuring that I get enough rest and relaxation. My downtime is important to me, and I make sure I have days where nothing at all is scheduled.
9. What would you say to someone thinking about getting involved as a volunteer?
Do it! There is so much to be gained. In helping others and the world around, you help yourself. Every little bit helps. No matter how small a contribution may feel, it does make a difference. You never know what doors can open as a result of the people you meet and the skills you build while volunteering.
STOP PRESS: Simone has just been elected as co-convenor of the Greens WA. Congratulations!