Volunteering with SASFV has really given me the opportunity to give back to community, as well as build new relationships and connections – SASFV Volunteer
It is because of volunteers that SASFV is where it is today, our organisation was built by dedicated and passionate people who have volunteered their time because they believe in our Vision. For this reason, SASFV greatly values its volunteers and the contributions they make to our organisation.
Volunteering with SASFV provides you with the opportunity to make a contribution to your community and the fight against family violence, as well as gaining experience, knowledge and skills to boost your own confidence and assist your professional development.
Ongoing Volunteering Opportunities
Family Support Worker
Family Support Workers assist clients who may be experiencing family violence to navigate the service system and seek the support that they need in order to overcome the issues that they are facing.
Family Support Workers are often the first point of call for clients who are unsure of where they need to go in order to get support. They will listen to the story and experience of clients and determine what services would be most relevant to support the clients depending on their individual circumstances.
The Family Support Worker can then provide information, or in some cases, a warm referral for the required service, to ensure the client gets the support and service they need. The Family Support Worker may also perform follow-up welfare checks with clients to see if they have had their needs met or require further assistance.
It is preferred that our Family Support Workers speak Punjabi in order to provide a culturally safe and relevant service to our clients.
Healthy Families, Healthy Relationships Community Educator
Volunteer Community Educators facilitate the Healthy Families, Healthy Relationships Program, a community education program that aims to equip families with knowledge and techniques for developing and maintaining healthy relationships within their families.
Volunteers are required to complete the Train the Trainer program to develop knowledge in the areas covered in the HFHR program, being gender equality, building respectful relationships and communication, family violence awareness, positive parenting techniques and managing family conflict. They also develop the skills to present and facilitate the HFHR workshops to a community group, with the support of SASFV program managers.
Prospective Volunteer Community Educators can expect to attend an information session and undergo an interview prior to engaging in the Train the Trainer program. They will then complete the training over two 3.5hr face-to-face sessions.
Volunteer Community Educators are then expected to run 3 complete HFHR programs with 3 different community groups over a 12-month period.
For more information about the Healthy Families, Healthy Relationships program, the Train the Trainer program and the Community Educator volunteering opportunity, visit our Programs page.
Other Opportunities
SASFV regularly has various other volunteer roles available. We would be happy to have a chat with you about potential volunteering opportunities with SASFV. Whether you would like the opportunity to:
- practise and refine the skills and knowledge you have obtained from study
- challenge yourself and expand your knowledge
- gain professional experience in your field of interest
- use your personal experience to help others
SASFV will also consider offering student placement opportunities on a case-by-case basis.
No matter what role you play, you will be making a difference to our organisation, we welcome volunteers with any range of skills or expertise. For more information about any Volunteering Opportunities please Get in touch .
Please note that it is a minimum requirement for SASFV Volunteers to be in possession of a valid Working with Children Check.
Collaborate
SASFV values collaboration and aims to build and maintain networks and collaborative relationships with service providers to ensure that our staff and volunteers have the knowledge and connections to be able to best support our clients and community.
We aim to connect and build relationships with a wide range of service providers because:
- We know a holistic approach to supporting victims of family violence is required to ensure their diverse and complex needs are adequately met.
- We are able to make access and referral pathways easier for our clients to navigate, so that they are able to overcome the barriers to accessing the service system.
- We are able to remain up to date with the with the most recent information and resources that we are then able to provide to the community in their relevant community language.
- We can share community feedback with service providers, government departments and relevant authorities, and advocacy for an improved, more collaborative, client-focused service delivery system.
- Our Support Workers are able to speak community languages and know of culturally safe services that are available to our community, so are able to assist service providers to better support their Punjabi or Hindi speaking clients.
If your organisation would like to connect with SASFV to discuss how we can collaborate to better support our community, please Get in touch.
Donate
Monetary donations support SASFV to continue to do the work that they do. We greatly appreciate any amount you may be able to give. You can Donate here.