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Stepping Out Program: Tolga

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27/08/2025

Never underestimate the power of humanity. This is the powerful message that Volunteer Tolga Okar wants to share with his global community.

Tolga, who is originally from Istanbul, has lived and worked all over the world. With an Honours Degree in English Philology from Istanbul University, the Certified Digital Marketing and Sales Professional said he never once anticipated he would be a Volunteer at the City of Norwood Payneham & St Peters.

But life is about experiences and Tolga has a very enriched and encouraging outlook.

Tolga, who is fluent in Turkish, English, French and with a good understanding of Mandarin and German, was faced with a very uncertain future when he was made redundant after moving to South Australia, with his wife and son aged six, in January 2019.

“I struggled to find a job which was parallel to my experience and corporate level of work,” Tolga said.

“It was right before COVID-19, I was in a new City, my only contact in Adelaide was the Turkish Association of South Australia who advised me to use my multinational intercultural human experiences and languages as a Volunteer.”

Tolga is now a Volunteer with the Council’s Stepping Out Program, and he has developed a special bond with a lady named Claire, who contacted the Council after experiencing loneliness due to various health conditions.

“I have this pleasure and inner satisfaction when Volunteering. It is a mutual thing. We are feeding each other throughout our life and cultural experiences. We are all human. Our material is the same, we share the same agonies, joy, and pain.”

“I can feel Claire is a lady of steel. Recently, in Turkey there was an earthquake—it was so hurtful for us, but Claire was so helpful. She called me frequently and we have developed a strong connection.”

“Coincidentally, Claire was a former nurse and a carer which helps me to understand what a carer is, from an Australian cultural point of view.  

During our chats, she has been giving me many tips about my new profession as a carer from another culture.” Tolga also hosts podcasts on speakmylanguage.com.au, a project from the Multicultural Communities' Council of SA (MCCSA) where he speaks (in Turkish) to guests who have disabilities about
community inclusion and accessibility, which is aired on multiple radio stations, Australia wide. He has also been working as a Volunteer with MCCSA, visiting elders from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in nursing homes.

Tolga is also undertaking Certificates in Disability and Aged Care which has led to employment in Nganana Inc. a not-for-profit community development organisation which works for people with disabilities from Indigenous backgrounds.

However, the most exciting news Tolga told Look East was that he, his wife Asli and his son Aksel had recently been welcomed as Australian Citizens and are going to live permanently in Kensington!

Congratulations Tolga and on behalf of the Council, we thank you for your generosity, wisdom and kind heartedness!

Interested in volunteering with us?

Visit our Volunteer Vacancies and Programs page for information and opportunities.