Volunteer Program: North East Arnhem Land 2013
The SOS Foundation Outreach Mission North East Arnhem Land August 2013.
Why is Sport and Spinal Physiotherapy Involved?
The practice regularly donates to community organisations. The staff is also encouraged to participate in volunteer work both locally and more widely as part of the practice’s charitable works projects and volunteer program. This volunteer program is funded by “Fundraising Friday”, where the practice donates 5% of all its revenue from the last Friday of each month to charitable organisations such as World Vision, Oxfam and the SOS Foundation. Involvement in these projects contributes to team morale by providing input into improving the health not only of our clients but also of those less fortunate.
What is the SOS Foundation?
The SOS Foundation is a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing caring health and welfare support to the disadvantaged in urban and remote communities of Australia. Their mission statement; Engage health professionals to mobilise funds and volunteers to achieve a significant and sustainable impact on the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of the poor within urban and remote Australia.
This is my second time up north with the SOS foundation. The organisation, along with Laynha Health have started to make it possible for the Yolngu communities to access a health service we take for granted in metropolitan parts of Australia. The country and lifestyles of the Yolngu people are different to those of the clients I see in Canberra, but I found I was seeing the same mechanical and muscular issues we treat at Sport & Spinal Physiotherapy. It made me realise how not having access to all health professionals, in this case Physiotherapy, can potentially turn a simple back or neck strain into an unnecessary chronic issue. The hands on treatment and advise I provided was well received by the communities and bought home to me the fact that as Physios we can provide excellent health care for mechanical and muscular issues.
I must thank my workplace, Sport & Spinal Physiotherapy for the support and enthusiasm the team provided. I am also indebted to the practice for funding my volunteer work by paying my wage whilst I was away for the week with the mission; it enabled me to jump at the opportunity without being impacted financially from the experience.
I consider that all of us, health professionals, support staff, practice owners, companies and organisations are capable of adding to the communities we live in and beyond. I would encourage anyone who would like to volunteer their time to disadvantaged communities across Australia, support their staff to participate in volunteer works, or donate to a foundation promoting our profession, to get in contact with the SOS Foundation. A small change to your professional outlook can really have significant impact on others.
