Settlement Volunteers

As a settlement volunteer you will provide hands-on, practical assistance to newly arrived refugee families in their first six months of settlement so that they become familiar with essential services and learn about daily life in Australia.

Settlement volunteering is a meaningful role; empowering refugee families to build confidence and engage in the community independently.

What will I be doing as a Settlement Volunteer? 

A day in the life of a settlement volunteer can vary dramatically. You might undertake basic tasks such as showing a family around the local area, pointing out where to shop or introducing local places of worship and other community activities. You might also help with fundamental tasks including locating and accessing local services such as Centrelink, Medicare and healthcare providers.

Examples may include:

  • Assisting clients to participate in events
  • Assisting clients to access shops, sporting clubs, and local gyms
  • Supporting clients to find and access places of worship
  • Supporting clients to access library and activities at the library
  • Assisting clients in activities with children (access to kinder, school, playgroup and etc.)
  • Supporting clients to practice travelling on public transport and use of Myki in preparation for appointments
  • Assisting clients to prepare resume and write job application letters
  • Assisting clients to address their interests outside of regular Humanitarian Settlement Program activities ( for example: learning skills like cooking , sewing and gardening)
  • Supporting with conversational English
  • Supporting clients to learn about computers, digital tools, Google maps, scams and etc.
  • Supporting clients to learn about banking
  • Supporting clients with rental applications and property inspections
  • Provide support at the office ( greeting clients, filing, filling forms, and explaining bills)
     

How much time do I need to spend volunteering?

We are looking for people who have availability during the day who would be able to commit from 2-4 hours at a time according to the entrant’s needs and may occasionally involve an extended day with some local or city travel.

Do I need any special skills or training? 

All Settlement Volunteers are provided an intensive training session and a range of ongoing task-specific workshops and general workshops.

We do also require our volunteers to have a current Police Check and Working With Children Check.

How do I apply?

For current volunteer opportunities, click here.