About Us
Our Purpose:
To actively build vibrant communities by providing support, training and services related to volunteering in Southern Adelaide and the Fleurieu.
Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc is a not-for-profit organisation established in August 1984 and incorporated on 16 April 1985. Originally known as Noarlunga Volunteer Services Inc, the organisation changed its name in January 1997 to Fleurieu Volunteer Resource Centre Inc and then again in July 2005 to Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc.
Since its establishment in 1984 thousands of people have been interviewed and referred to volunteer positions. With a register of hundreds of volunteer involving organisations throughout the southern suburbs and the Fleurieu Peninsula, Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc has been supporting the community through volunteer referrals, volunteer management support and training.
Annual Reports & Highlights
Southern Volunteering is proud to share our 2024-2025 Annual Report and Highlights documents. These outline the services, projects and achievements of our organisation over the last 12 months.
Our Team
Meet the staff of the SVSA team, supporting and celebrating volunteering across the Southern region of Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula.
Melanie Kerton
Chief Executive Officer
Mel has worked in the volunteering sector for more than 30 years, with her career spanning Volunteer Resource Centres in both the UK and Australia. Throughout this time, she has worked with a diverse range of volunteer-involving organisations, from small community groups to larger organisations across a variety of service areas. She has provided guidance and support on best practice in volunteer program management, as well as leading and managing projects directly.
Originally from the UK, Mel moved to Adelaide in 2013 and has been CEO of Southern Volunteering since November 2015. She holds a degree in Psychology from the University of York and a Diploma in Human Resources. In 2019, she became a Fellow of the Governors Leadership Foundation of South Australia.
Volunteering has always been an important part of Mel’s life. She started at age 8 helping at the toddler group her mother ran, then throughout her life, including supporting her son’s activities as they were growing up. These days, she continues to volunteer around her busy schedule, often getting involved in event volunteering in SA – the festival state!
Outside of work and volunteering, Mel enjoys photography, spending time outdoors and attending live music events.
Jo Rees
ACVVS State Network Member & Communities of Practice Coordinator
Jo had a long business career in Marketing and Market Research, before a purposeful change of focus to Aged Care and Community, a sector she has been proud to work in since 2004. During this time Jo has worked in Aged Care Homes, and in various roles promoting social connection, all with a base of talented, dedicated volunteers. Two of those roles have been in different programs coordinating one to one volunteer visitations for older adults and another as Social Connections Lead for an Aged Care Provider. Promoting and facilitating connection for socially isolated older adults, brings purpose and meaning.
Jo moved from the UK to Sydney in 1998 and then to Adelaide in 2004 – a great decision! Jo holds a mixed Social Science Degree, majoring in Modern History and Economics, as well as two Cert IV qualifications in Managing Volunteer Programs and Training and Education (adults).
Over the past 22 years Jo has also volunteered her own time, including running social programs in Aged Care Homes, being a committee member and treasurer of The Cabin’s children’s space in Aldgate, a board member for Friends of Child and Youth Health, and currently as a committee member of the Stirling Tennis Club, where she also plays. Interests include tennis (playing and watching), hiking, and reading.
Renai Casey
ACVVS Coordinator
Renai has worked in the community services sector for more than 16 years, with experience across aged care, disability, child protection, young carers, refugee support and family services. Since 2020, she has worked with Southern Volunteering as Coordinator of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, helping connect older people who may be experiencing loneliness or social isolation with volunteer visitors for friendship and companionship.
She is currently completing a Certificate IV in Ageing Support and is passionate about supporting positive, person-centred outcomes for older people.
Renai also volunteers by taking dogs into aged care facilities for one-to-one and group visits, including puppy visits, which bring residents plenty of joy, conversation and connection. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and her goofy Groodle Ted, keeping active and catching up with friends.
Lynne Arbon
Regional Projects Coordinator
Lynne brings a wealth of experience in supporting and connecting people, having worked across a range of community-focused roles including Trainer, Aged Care Package Coordinator and Local Area Coordinator with both government and not-for-profit organisations. Lynne has a Certificate IV in Service Coordination Ageing and Disability, and has worked in the volunteering sector for over six years, bringing a strong understanding of the value volunteers contribute to their communities.
Helping others has always been an important part of Lynne’s life. She has enjoyed being involved in her children’s sporting activities over the years and now channels that same enthusiasm into participating in and volunteering at parkrun.
Outside of work and volunteering, Lynne enjoys travelling, spending time in nature. Her personal motto reflects her approach to life and community: “It’s a good day if I’ve been able to brighten someone else’s day.”
Our Board of Management
The work of SVSA wouldn’t be possible with the support of an amazing team of more than 100 volunteers, including those that serve on our Board of Management.
Cathie Vincent
Chair
Cathie brings with her 17 years of service at the City of Onkaparinga, where she managed three Community Centres, leading volunteer management, program development and governance with a strong commitment to community engagement.
Now retired, she remains actively involved in the Toyota Landcruiser Club, and enjoys off‑road caravanning and travel. Her long-standing dedication to volunteering is reflected in 10 years on the Board of Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc, where she continues to contribute to sector leadership and strategic direction.
Noelani Reardon
Treasurer
Noelani worked for the NSW and South Australian State governments for over twenty years. She has led cultural and operational transformation in her unwavering commitment to reduce the State’s road toll and improving safety performance on the road.
Noelani has contributed to legislative frameworks, policy and program development which have provided direct safety benefits to the community. She has a strong policy and strategy background and held operational management roles for many years. She represented the State Agency’s position on several key national reforms and has worked closely with all three levels of government.
On the Queens Birthday, 2020, Noelani was humbled to be awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for public service to road safety in NSW. She moved back to Adelaide in 2022 and has been a volunteer in our Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS) for about 18 months.
Noelani has a Bachelor of Management, Diploma of Government, Diploma of Financial Services, Post Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management and Post Graduation Certificate in Public Policy.
Paul Kennedy
Secretary
Paul has completed a career in Logistics, establishing and operating his own Business in Melbourne for over ten years.
South Australia beckoned and the opportunity arose to be part of the Air Warfare Destroyer program in Osborne and the ongoing Submarine fleet maintenance in Fremantle, WA.
Now semi-retired and generally found enjoying the South Australian coastline, a connection was made with Southern Volunteering through the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, which continues to provide wonderful kinship and interaction with the most interesting members of our community.
Jonette Thorsteinsten
Board Member
Jonette retired after 39 years teaching in Southern Adelaide kindergartens, and began looking for opportunities for volunteering in the local community with her new free time. She has enjoyed being part of a team and the friendships she has made. She initially became involved with Southern Volunteering in 2020, helping to letterbox postcards during the pandemic.
Jonette is passionate about supporting people in becoming involved in volunteering and finding them places in the community where they feel welcome and useful.
Jonette’s formal qualifications are Diploma in Early Childhood Education, Graduate Diploma Community and School, Bachelor of Special Education and Bachelor of Arts.
Kerry Jaunutis
Board Member
Kerry trained as a registered nurse and worked in Work Health and Safety for 40 years, retiring from Flinders University as Rehabilitation Coordinator and Work Health and Safety Officer in 2016. Looking to fill in some time she went to Southern Volunteering and began volunteering at Minton Farm Native Animal Rescue Centre and continues to do so, enjoying the social aspects of volunteering as well as the animal care. She joined the Board of Southern Volunteering SA at the encouragement of other members and enjoys the many challenges presented to the Board since joining.
Mal Sutcliffe
Board Member
Mal is Tasmanian born but now a resident of Strathalbyn, where he is Manager of the Strathalbyn Neighbourhood Centre. He has had a wide variety of careers both paid and voluntary, including chef, mechanic, boat builder, First Aid instructor, soccer coach, Rotarian and Marine Rescue Volunteer. He holds a Diploma of Governance from the Institute of Community Director Australia, a Diploma in Management and a Diploma in Dementia Care. His ethos is to be fair, just and reasonable.
Funding Partners & Sponsors
Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc acknowledges the following funding partners and supporters:
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Australian Government Department of Social Services
Government of South Australia Department of Human Services
Quality Accreditation
Awarded Recognition Level 1 of the Australian Service Excellence Standards
In 2023 Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc was recognised in achieving STARservice, which is Recognition Level 1 of Australian Service Excellence Standards (ASES). The Standards aim to build capacity and improve work practices in community organisations.
Organisations that earn the ASES Recognition status have improved their ability to attract funding and support, recruit qualified and motivated employees and volunteers, build a safe, positive and welcoming workplace, and develop better policies, procedures and practices such as WHS, risk management and financial management.
ACNC Tick of Charity Registration
Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc is a not-for-profit organisation and is registered with the Australian Charities & Not-for-profits Commission.
The ACNC Tick of Charity Registration (the Registered Charity Tick) aims to gives reassurance to the public that a charity is transparent and accountable and listed on the ACNC Charity Register.
GET IN TOUCH
To arrange an appointment, or to chat with one of our friendly staff, please always ring or email the relevant service first and we will ensure the most appropriate staff member is available to help you.
Southern Volunteering welcomes people of all sexualities, genders, ethnicities, faiths, abilities and interests. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Acknowledgement of Country - Southern Volunteering acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we work, and pay respect to Elders past, present and emerging.
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