After 44 years as a teacher and school principal, volunteering to transport children in care seemed like a natural fit for Dave Love, who had recently retired.

“I could name the number of bad days in my teaching career on two hands – I’ve never seen it as a job,” the Yorke Peninsula man says.

“I’ve always seen it as a time to share relevant information with students, enjoy their company, respect them, and never underestimating the power I’ve had to influence them.

“I see all kids as young potential adults. They’re finding their way in life and you’re there to support them in any way you can to help them achieve their goals. We’re on their learning path together.”

In the lead up to National Volunteer Week (18-24 May), the Department for Child Protection is celebrating the vital role more than 200 volunteers, including Dave, play in creating safe, supportive environments for children and young people in care.

In classrooms across the state, Dave emphasised his mantra “the 3 Fs” – he was firm, fair and fun; his sense of humour also helping him to develop a rapport with the children he connects with through his volunteer work.

“I’m a big kid myself, to be honest,” he says. “Generally speaking, I get conversations going pretty quickly. There aren’t too many kids that don’t enjoy a laugh.”

The 69-year-old has worked at schools across the state, including spending 12 years as principal of Point Pearce Aboriginal School and another six as a state-wide permanent relief teacher, “working and living out of a suitcase”.

“I taught students from Reception to Year 12 and could be sent to schools anywhere from Yorke Peninsula, Eyre Peninsula, to the WA border, the NT border and down to the Broken Hill road,” he says.

“I had many jobs in remote and isolated Aboriginal communities where I worked with families who were living as traditionally as possible.”

Those experiences, he says, gave him a strong understanding of the richness of Aboriginal culture and placed him in good stead to understand the levels of disadvantage and social justice issues facing many remote communities and families.

Since last year, Dave has been transporting children in care across the Yorke Peninsula, and sometimes to Adelaide and the Mid North, helping them get to school and attend visits with family members and appointments.

He recalls transporting two siblings who “didn’t get on too well sometimes”, and finding that encouraging them to sing was the perfect way to keep them occupied during a school run.

“I’d sing some stupid songs myself and get them going, and I’d say, ‘Do you think you can do better than that?”, and they’d have their own little songs they’d sing at school that they were happy to share. It was enjoyable for everyone and made the trip seem quicker.”

The Department for Child Protection will host a lunch for volunteers across South Australia at Sunnybrae Estate in Regency Park, northern Adelaide, on Wednesday, 20 May.

For more information about volunteering, visit childprotection.sa.gov.au/volunteers or call 0492 000 743.