From disadvantaged families to cancer patients and children in care, Rosalie Hancock has spent a lifetime supporting those in need.

And at 87, she’s proving age need not be a barrier to giving back to your community.

Rosalie was 80 when she signed up to volunteer with the Department for Child Protection to transport children in care in Adelaide’s inner south.

“I’ve always been for the kids,” she says, adding that she also delivers meals for underprivileged children through non-profit Kickstart for Kids, and spent 12 years working for the Crippled Children’s Association (now Novita).

“I’m doing a little bit to try and help the kids have a stable life, and it’s rewarding.

“Taking children to access visits with their mum or dad, you just think, ‘This may lead to them getting their child back’, or even if you’re taking them to school, you know they’re getting to school.”

After finishing up as a volunteer with The Leukaemia Foundation, Rosalie heard about the role at the Department for Child Protection, and since then, has been volunteering about 3-5 days a week, picking children up and taking them to school and visits with family members.

This year, she’ll reduce her shifts, but she’s still very much enjoying the role because of the opportunity to connect with the children, and the sense of fulfilment that brings.

Among those the former enrolled nurse has regularly transported is an eight-year-old girl.

“She’s quite a chatterbox and she’ll just take you into her confidence,” she says.

“She said to me, ‘Why can’t you take me to school every day’, and I said, ‘Because I have to do other things’ and she says, ‘I’ll ring up DCP and tell them you’ve got to take me every day’.

“Sometimes these kids just want somebody to listen to them and that’s what I try to do without getting too involved. You can’t spread yourself around enough, really.”

The Department has about 180 volunteers, and along with offering an important transport service, they assist children and young people with homework support, help them with their Life Story Books (memory scrapbooks) and support them at special events.

Rosalie encourages people looking for a fulfilling volunteering role to consider helping out at the Department.

“I can’t express enough, please volunteer, even if you’ve just got one day a week,” she says.

Department for Child Protection Chief Executive Jackie Bray says volunteers are a vital part of the child protection and family support system, and the support they give children is immeasurable.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for the help volunteers provide to children and their carers and families,” she says.

“We know children come to rely on these special people as a familiar and friendly face. They act as another trusted adult in their lives, and for many young people, that’s incredibly important.”

For more information on volunteering, visit childprotection.sa.gov.au/volunteers, or contact the volunteer coordinator team on 0492 000 743 or DCPVolunteerProgram@sa.gov.au.