The Parents and Friends’ Association (P&F) is the volunteer hub of the Mount Lilydale Mercy College community. The P&F is run by volunteers, who generously donate their time to running a number of events each year within the College community. These events vary in the commitment required by volunteers, as well as the responsibilities that come with each activity.
The aim of the P&F is to serve the College community, and enrich the educational experiences available to students at our College. Through much of the volunteer work done by the P&F, funds are raised, and ultimately donated back into the College by purchasing items that the students will have access to as part of the available learning and co-curricular opportunities at the College. In recent years, the P&F have bought instruments for the music department, funded the building of the student IT hub, and purchased sustainably-built benches for a number of outside student seating areas on the College grounds.
The P&F have regular evening meetings held at the College, and all volunteers are invited to attend. The meetings are an excellent opportunity to discuss upcoming events, as well as ways in which the Association can ultimately enrich the learning experience of the students at the College. There is no ongoing commitment to attend the meetings, nor is there an obligation to volunteer in any events if attending.
The P&F are responsible for hosting a number of one-day, short events at the College. These events include:
- Special Persons' Day
- Swimming and athletics carnivals
- Mercy Day
- Year 7 Orientation Day
- Taste of MLMC.
The P&F are also responsible for running a number of large events/committees within the College. These events include:
The Debutante Ball Committee
The Debutante Ball Committee is responsible for organising the upcoming Debutante Balls. The committee is a joint effort between P&F and College Staff. Preparation for the Balls begin in August of the previous year, and the Balls take place usually in April or May of the following year.
The Organisation Skills Program
The Organisation Skills Program is a volunteer-led program which aims to assist students with developing their organisational skills and ultimately, empowering them to feel confident and comfortable in how to approach their workload. The program involves volunteers going into (mainly junior) classes, during a time pre-arranged with the classroom teacher, to work on a range of skills. Such skills include: locker organisation, using the homework diary effectively, developing skills in preparing for assessments and exams, keeping folders and satchels tidy, and developing an efficient and effective approach to study.
Other volunteering opportunities
There are a number of individuals who volunteer at the College outside of the P&F. These volunteering roles include, but are not limited to:
- Assistance with the Young Farmers Club/maintenance of the College farm
- Assistance in particular classes (ie. Food Technology)
- Assistance with the College Play/Musical
- Working with the Counselling team to assist students
- Attending excursions/incursions
- Working in the College canteens.
How to get involved
- All volunteers at the College are required to complete the MLMC Volunteer Application Form
- You can find further details about the range of opportunities that are open to volunteers in this booklet MLMC Volunteer Guide Book.
If you have any questions regarding volunteering at the College, please get in contact with Sarah Shallcross (Community Development Coordinator) via email at sshallcross@mlmc.vic.edu.au or by phone on 9739 2220.
