My Volunteer Experience - Brenda Pullen
Welcome Brenda!
Brenda Pullen joined the SAcommunity Customer Service Team as a volunteer on 10 March 2021 to create an opportunity to practice her TAFE administrative skills. Retiring in 21 July 2021 we were pleased to announce that she gained employment as a Customer Service Representative at an information technology company starting in August 2021, where she worked on government contracts for the next 16 months.
Brenda Pullen joined the SAcommunity Customer Service Team as a volunteer on 10 March 2021 to create an opportunity to practice her TAFE administrative skills. Retiring in 21 July 2021 we were pleased to announce that she gained employment as a Customer Service Representative at an information technology company starting in August 2021, where she worked on government contracts for the next 16 months.
Recently Brenda contacted the SAcommunity team on 17 March 2025 in order to return to volunteering, whilst she builds her skills through an RTO as part of the Workforce Australia employment service, simulaneously searching for a new position in administration. Welcome back Brenda!
Total Hours 67 hours Joined 10 March 2021 Last Check-in 21 July 2021
Personal Biography
Brenda studied a Certificate III in Business Administration at TAFE SA, learning Microsoft Suite and MYOB software. She volunteered as a cashier at the Salvation Army Store in Salisbury to gain retail experience, before being led to Connecting Up in 2021 to further her office and customer service skills, practicing phone calls and data entry.
Brenda was soon employed at Datacom for 16 months in a telephone-based customer service role, working to assist with the provision social security payments and services to Australians, in particular processing claim forms for Covid Disaster payments, and payments to youth and students.
Responding to her exit interview at the time Brenda told us "I'm super excited and working hard learning my new job. Thank you for all your time and effort in helping me and for making me feel welcome and appreciated. I will do my very best and hope that you continue doing well..." Thank you so much for letting me gain experience with you and Connecting Up." Congratulations Brenda!
Returning in March 2025, Brenda starts a Workforce Australia Course through an RTO to continue to build workplace skills including communication and teamwork, and develop job search and application skills. She plans to return to Connecting Up in the following months to continue her professional development and life-long learning, and digital skills training.
In the future she aims to continue undertaking an administration and reception role where she can continue to assist people with their needs.
Training and Development - Telephone Techniques
Telephone techniques follow on with email and communication techniques, to assist SAcommunity Team members with understanding more about the directory and undertake data collection methods, assist with data cleaning and updating individual record information, and, in finally introducing and presenting SAcommunity and Connecting Up services to stakeholders.
At Connecting Up in 2021, after the completion of her training, Brenda worked on answering emails, researching and confirming information, and updating listings in the SAcommunity database, her attention to detail an asset. On receiving training in telephone techniques, Brenda started phone calls and has embraced the challenge.
Digital Training & Development
Volunteers and interns have access to the Connecting Up Digital Learning Platform providing live webinars and recorded webinars, workshops and webcons presented by subject-matter experts to understand more about a range of technology topics for the not-for-profit sector.
On her return this year in 2025, Brenda selected and participated in relevant digital training sessions, to enhance her volunteer experience and these have included:
Introduces the foundations of AI and its diverse applications in digital marketing, productivity, human resources, and more.
