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.”

Just jump in and start learning

"What I've learned is just to believe in myself. And if you need help, ask for it."

Photo of (left to right): Anita Planchon, Michael Kirby, Rowena Holder, Hamish Locke

Write for the people: Plain English and the law

"Ditch pot boilers such as hereinafter, whereas, requisite, and all those other expressions that are just packing, and are not really necessary." (The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG)

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