How one young South Aussie is making every second count at Vinnies
How one young South Aussie is making every second count at Vinnies
Kylan Beech is a man who understands the value of time.
Whether he is managing corporate car sales at Maughan Thiem, working on his telecommunications business, leading his local cricket club as president, or in the centre of the oval umpiring a SANFL match, his schedule is packed.
He even manages to squeeze in time to produce and present Adelaide radio station LifeFM’s weekly sports show on Saturdays.
On the surface, it’s the high-energy lifestyle of a typical, passionate young South Australian professional, and one that would leave many of us exhausted.
It’s perhaps not surprising then, that it takes something really special to get Kylan to fit even more into his week.
For Kylan, this comes from the impact he has through being a Conference member, and more recently in his leadership role as the Regional President for the St Vincent de Paul Society in the Western Region of Adelaide.
A unique impact with a wide range services
While Vinnies is a lay Catholic organisation and Beech is a person of faith, Kylan says that religion was not his primary driver for choosing to volunteer for the Society.
For him, the choice is based on the undeniable scope and impact of the services Vinnies provides, and their unique ability to catch people before they fall through the cracks.
"The best part about Vinnies is that we are there before people get to the streets, we’re there when they are on the streets, and we’re there after they have been on the streets." he says.
"We’re there every step of the way. That’s what makes Vinnies unique, I think."
"Even if I didn’t have faith, I’d still choose Vinnies because I see that impact and the amount of services we provide."
Seeing what’s really under the cover
Kylan learned early in life not to judge a book by its cover.
His first assistance visit with Vinnies as a teenager remains one of his most profound experiences, as it took him just three streets away from his own family home.
"That was such an eye-opener," he recalls.
"I never would have thought someone living so close could literally be struggling to put food on the table for their family, but they were."
He notes that the need for assistance is often much closer than people realise.
His role as a member of the Lockleys Conference involves the traditional core work of the Society: the home visit.
He regularly meets people from all walks of life who have hit a sudden rough patch, from former professionals to families shattered by workplace injury or relationship breakdown.
"People judge books by their cover and they are often wrong," he says.
"Some of the people I visit have come from really well off families, great jobs and had houses, but they very quickly lose everything; these situations can happen to anyone."
Kylan likens people hitting hard times to ships that can go off course without realising it, and says the Society’s goal is not just to meet immediate needs, but to get them back on track for good.
The joy of shared values
While the organisation has faith-based roots, he says the reality of ‘life at Vinnies’ is simply a group of like-minded people putting a shared set of values to work for the greater good.
"I think some people think that joining Vinnies means you have to be very religious.
"But at the end of the day, we’re here to help people, all kinds of people, and in whatever way we can.
"Some people might describe what drives us as Catholic values, but these are the same, good values that all decent people share, and Vinnies is a fantastic place to bring them to life, whether you’re a person of faith or not."
The power of specific impact
Kylan believes Vinnies is the ideal fit for young people because they are often specific about the causes and impacts they want to support.
The diversity of the organisation allows volunteers to find a niche that matches their personal interests.
"Young people want to be involved in specialised areas, where they can see specific outcomes that align with what they want to achieve," he explains.
"This makes Vinnies a perfect match for them, because there are so many different ways to help that it actually suits young people better than many other organisations."
Those opportunities range from working at Vinnies Men’s and Women’s crisis centres, supporting the Vinnies Refugee and Asylum Seeker Service (VRASS), and serving meals with Fred’s Van.
Volunteers can also choose to work in shops, take calls on the Vinnies assistance line, or participate in home visits as part of the Society’s conference work.
"The beauty of Vinnies is that there really is something for everyone. And it doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time, either.
"Whether you can give five minutes or ten minutes, it makes a difference.”
A place for good people to make a difference
Kylan describes Vinnies as a modern, flexible organisation that respects the time constraints of busy people.
He stands as evidence that you don’t need to be anything other than a good person with honest intent to make a real difference in South Australia.
With a new strategic plan currently in the works and an emphasis on accessibility, he believes there has never been a better time for others to join Vinnies.
"I think now is the best time to join the Society because we are more open and flexible than ever.
"Whether you’re older or younger - and in my opinion, especially if you’re younger - Vinnies is an incredible place to make a difference.
"I’ve always wanted to get young people involved in all our amazing services because once they see the work we actually do, they are really inspired by the impact they can have in so many different ways."
If Kylan's story has inspired you and you're interested in volunteering for Vinnies, you can find out more information here: Volunteering in SA | Vinnies