Shelley, volunteer

Shelley's story

Shelley Charlton was one of four winners in the Volunteer of the Year Awards 2019, as part of the Department for Education, Children and Young People’s Together We Inspire Awards.

She works as an adult literacy and numeracy volunteer at Glenorchy Library and has an amazing amount of respect and passion for her students.

“To me, my students never fail,” she said. “If they can’t do something, it means I have to find another way to teach it.”

“If you can read, it doesn’t matter if you are sick, if you can’t walk, if nobody thinks anything of you. It doesn’t matter. Because as long as you have a book, you can be anybody, you can go anywhere and you can do anything.”

Huon 26Ten Community

The Huon 26Ten Community contributes to a prosperous community where local residents and workers have the confidence and skills they need to flourish in work and everyday life.

Two people sitting, with one comforting the other by holding their hand

A 60-year-old former literacy student talks about facing fear and life changing decisions

A moving story from a former literacy student who didn't allow fear to hold him back.

Acknowledgement of Country

26Ten recognises the deep histories and cultures of the Aboriginal people of Lutruwita/Tasmania, the land’s first storytellers. We acknowledge Tasmanian Aboriginal people as the traditional and continuing custodians of the land, waters and sky. We pay respect to the Elders, past and present, who hold the memories, traditions, culture and knowledge of Country. We extend our respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, whose Countries were never ceded.

Success story: Shelley, volunteer