So tell me….Daniel Robinson

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Daniel Robinson is Program Manager at our Malmsbury Camp. With a great love of the outdoors, a diverse range of experiences & skills and a positive, passionate attitude, Daniel is an inspiring character to have at Doxa. We caught up with him to find out more about who he is and what he’s about.  

What’s your favourite thing to do at the weekend?

If the snow’s good, you’ll find me in the hills, skiing or boarding. If the snow’s not good, you’ll find me in the hills, walking and just being out there. If there’s no snow at all, you’ll find me in the hills, smashing out k’s on the mountain bike or running trails with my dogs, Digger and Nugget. I also place great value on spending weekends with friends and family.

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How did you get to where you are today in your career?

By trying a range of occupations and being open to opportunities. I have been a corporate mailroom worker, credit clerk, telephone operator for a taxi company, factory worker, administrator of a theatre company, bike courier, bartender, ski guide, raft guide, expedition leader, personal trainer, outdoor educator and now program manager. Every role has held worth. I’ve carried valuable lessons from each to the next and what I’ve learnt along the way have been the milestones of my journey. I continue to learn.

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Daniel has been a life-long Western Bulldogs fan

Every role has held worth. I’ve carried valuable lessons from each to the next and what I’ve learnt along the way have been the milestones of my journey. I continue to learn.

Can you tell us about your role at Doxa?

Day to day I am surrounded by amazing people. The staff team that we have at Malmsbury is outstanding. They are all very passionate about providing the best possible experience for all of the campers that visit. Our campers are diverse in background but share a common gratitude for everything they experience here. I am privileged to oversee all of the great outcomes between staff and campers. It’s rewarding to live and work in this environment.

What’s your favourite thing about the Doxa Camps program?

The smile on campers’ faces as they leave. This comes as a result of the hard work that we all put in to make sure that their time at Malmsbury camp is a great experience. A smile and a thank you is pretty much all the affirmation you need!

Tell us a surprising fact about yourself ?

I have worked in fifteen different countries.

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Daniel leading a World Challenge Expedition to Mt Everest Base Camp, Himalayas

Be outdoors. Experience it. Understand it. Value it.

If you could broadcast a message to the world, what would you say?

Be outdoors. Experience it. Understand it. Value it.

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Catching Up With….Priscilla Pham

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Alumni Cadet, volunteer addict and all round Doxa legend Priscilla Pham is a Bachelor of Environmental Science (Environmental Management and Sustainability) from Deakin University. She completed her work placement at BP Australia and has some great ideas about making the world a better place.

What’s your favourite TV show and why?

Absolutely going to say Friends, a great comedic classic. If I ever need a good laugh I can always rely on Friends. Though I’m also a huge animation addict and have an undying love for Adventure Time. It resonates well with my inner childhood as well as some deep obstacles that we tend to face in life.

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Can you tell us about your involvement with Doxa?

Where do I even begin haha, I love Doxa and they’re my forever family. It all started from the Cadetship program where I was selected to commence my placement with BP Australia back in 2013. I’ve finished that now, but felt that Doxa and I could do so much more together. With more capacity for Cadets and Alumni to support and contribute to Doxa, I’d taken on a wide range of voluntary opportunities. I’ve helped out at a series of working bees, racing lunches, Cadetship camps and Holiday Camps in Malmsbury, University Pathways Programs and now the Future Focus program.

“What I can do now with all the skills and experiences is to give back and provide opportunities to the kids who don’t have it, who were like me when I was their age. It’s time for me to give back.”

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Priscilla (right) at Doxa Malmsbury Working Bee, March 2016

How has Doxa had an impact on you?

Doxa helped me to believe that no matter what situations happen in my life anything is achievable, all I had to do was seek the resources and support that was already there waiting for me. Doxa made me realise that I’m beyond a social construct and that family comes in all shapes and sizes. Honestly, I don’t know where I’d be now if I didn’t have Doxa there to support me at my lowest. What I can do now with all the skills and experiences is to give back and provide opportunities to the kids who don’t have it, who were like me when I was their age. It’s time for me to give back.

“Doxa helped me to believe that no matter what situations happen in my life anything is achievable.”

Name some of the things in society that matter to you?

Oh gosh, there’s so many! Here are a few key areas though:

Everything from quality living standards, to equality on every level and ensuring that everyone takes into account their responsibility for the environment.

Providing opportunities matters to me because I know that talent is existent in everyone, and if every person has that opportunity to showcase their talents and capabilities only greater things can come from that. It’s amazing what we’re capable of.

I always love to refer to the United Nations 17 Sustainability Goals that countries adopted in September 2015 as their new sustainable agenda. I can relate to all their set goals as my own and their goals are fantastic. We’re in a day and age where societies are capable of so much more.

“Providing opportunities matters to me because I know that talent is existent in everyone…”

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What’s your favourite social network and why?

Facebook is my go to and a long time buddy. It’s where I can find interesting news feeds, recipes, updates on friends and family and a great tool for global integration. I can say that half my friends aren’t Australian and I can learn so much about who they are and their culture. Snapchat is great too, it was initial peer pressure but I’ve grown fond of the filters!

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What are the top 3 things on your bucket list?

  • Travel the world, again and for longer
  • Help as many people as I can while I can
  • Exude happiness wherever I can
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Wyndham Star Weekly – City Camp

Publication

Wyndham Star Weekly

Program

City Camp

Summary

As part of Doxa’s City Camp Program, students from a visiting school placed poppies in the field on Remembrance Day on November 11, 2016.

Read the full article here.

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