Victim Support
Free, nationwide support for people affected by crime, suicide and traumatic events.
We are here for you, 24/7.
June 17, 2021
Volunteer stories
A first-hand experience with Victim Support led Diana to become a volunteer with the organisation.
“Quite a few years ago I was the victim of an assault. The next day I got a phone call from a support worker asking if there was anything they could do for me,” Diana says.
“I’d never heard of Victim Support before that. But I immediately thought, ‘I can do that’.
Helping people comes naturally to Diana. Over the years she has volunteered her time at several organisations, but her passion lies with Victim Support. She feels strongly that no one in trauma should ever be alone, especially initially.
“It’s just something I feel I am good at, listening to and empathising with others,” she says. "I think my own experiences have increased my understanding of people. I’m not afraid of the silences and never feel like there is any hurry. I just take my time to be there for people in whatever way they need."
“The most important thing is just being there for that person, in that moment, regardless of what’s happened."
Diana retired four years ago and volunteers three to four days a week with Victim Support. She is always available to the call centre and is prepared to go wherever she is needed. She was on the scene after the Whakaari/White Island eruption, and supported victims of the Christchurch terror attacks.
Being confident in your ability to help and take on the hard stuff, and not be surprised at anything you see or hear, are some of the things Diana thinks makes a good volunteer.
“You never know who you’re going to meet or what their reaction might be. You can meet someone who has been the victim of a burglary, who has a similar traumatic reaction to someone who has lost a family member in a road accident,” she says.
“The most important thing is just being there for that person, in that moment, regardless of what’s happened. All I do is be alongside them for as long as it takes for them to begin to heal.”
