My name is Ariana Smajstr and I act within the role as Lismore’s regional youth representative for St Vincent De Paul. I reside in Grafton, NSW and I am actively involved in St Mary’s conference in Grafton.

St Mary’s conference has been operating since the 1950’s and was soon funded by St Vincent De Paul. At the beginning of 2015, St Mary’s conference invited students and young people aged 16 or older as active participants that can offer assistance to those in need. As of 2021, young people continue to be active members within our conference through various initiatives such as a Friday BBQ trailer, Saturday assistance and school based programs as well as more arising opportunities to provide support to our community.

I began volunteering at St Vincent De Paul not long after turning 16 and received great encouragement from both my teachers and peers to get involved. At the time, there were over 20 young people enrolled as members of our society who provided their time on a Saturday morning to interview and supply society funds. My first couple of times at the conference were quite daunting as I was confronted with new and unpredictable challenges that tested my understanding of morals and ethics. I observed my fellow adult and younger members at first as they equally shared the role of interviewing, providing funds and lodging information. I deeply admired the trust and responsibility that older members offered to many of the young people within our conference and we each shared roles that we were most comfortable with. After a couple more visits, I was interviewing members of our community and assessing the complicated situations that people were facing. If ever in doubt, we could always turn to a member for support or a second opinion, but regardless of the decisions that young people were making, as long as we felt that our judgement was fair and just, conference members did not challenge this.

Being a student that has social, sporting, study or working commitments, it can be incredibly challenging to find any free and convenient time. St Mary’s conference is located in a central and busy area within Grafton and currently only runs on Saturday mornings (Due to COVID 19), between 9 and 11am. The timing and location of the conference has had a great impact on both conference members and individual’s searching for assistance. Young and older members are more likely to be involved as this falls on a Saturday which is less inclined to clash with any school or working commitments. This likewise allows people to access the conferences services at a more convenient time.

Volunteering at St Mary’s conference in Grafton has provided me with many opportunities to build my character and further my understanding. I have gained stronger resilience, the ability to have difficult conversations, an enhanced perspective, the ability to put myself in the shoes of others, compassion and a desire for kindness. The challenges that I have faced have been both sad but equally rewarding. It can be incredibly difficult to witness the struggle a person is facing, but having the opportunity to improve their quality of life is even more powerful.

I strongly encourage all young people aged 16 and over to be involved in their local conference whether it’s for a new experience, a passion for social justice or to overcome new challenges, the outcome is always rewarding. While it can be a confronting experience, the things that you will learn about yourself and others will continue to have a pivotal effect on your life.