Volunteering

Supporting Sonshine Sanctuary – Information for Volunteer Staff Applicants

SONSHINE SANCTUARY CRISIS ACCOMMODATION & SUPPORT CENTRE is a Christian service, offering safe crisis accommodation to women and children made homeless by domestic violence and its’ associated issues.

The Refuge is staffed by volunteers, with the exception of our Team Leader/s. We would like to be in a position to have staff on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Therefore there are a large number of volunteer staff needed to meet the continuous operation of the Refuge, and new staff are always welcome to join our team.

The Team Leader and the Administrator have the responsibility of the overall day-to-day running of the Refuge, taking charge of the support given to clients and organising the volunteer staff roster. They in turn report to the Management Committee.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM WORKING AT SONSHINE SANCTUARY:

• RECOGNITION FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION
• ON-THE-JOB SUPPORT
• SATISFACTION IN HELPING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE’S LIFE
• A BROADENING OF YOUR VIEWS
• THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN NEW INFORMATION ON A RANGE OF ISSUES
• THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE YOUR CHRISTIANITY AND MAKE NEW FRIENDSHIPS WITH LIKE-MINDED PEOPLE
• A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF THE REFUGE AND INVOLVEMENT IN A TEAM.

CATEGORIES AND ROLES OF STAFF:

DAY SUPPORT STAFF, WEEK-DAYS:

To assist the Team Leader between 9 am to 3 pm [or part time most welcome] usually once per week or once per fortnight. Some day helpers like a high level of interaction in the case management of our clients. Others choose a specific task of which they take charge [eg Pantry stocks, linen maintenance, gardening, etc] and others help with the day’s routine chores such as shopping, amusing the children, or role modelling such as sharing their favourite easy recipe with the clients. When a client leaves the Refuge, the Day Helpers assist with her departure and help with the bedmaking, laundry & cleaning of the Unit after she has left.

CHILD SUPPORT WORKERS*:

Sessional [i.e, when required] from 3 pm – 6 pm weekdays or 9 am – noon on week ends, to focus on the needs of children in crisis. Ideal volunteer position for teachers or child workers, or very experienced grandmothers.

NOTE 1: ALL SUPPORT STAFF must hold or be prepared to obtain a Children’s Check Blue Card from the Queensland Commission for Children & Young People. Sonshine Sanctuary can assist with the procurement of same.

NOTE 2: ALL SUPPORT STAFF must hold a current Queensland Drivers Licence and be prepared to drive the Refuge vehicle.

REQUIREMENTS OF ALL STAFF:

• Be able to show empathy and a caring attitude towards the women and children, as part of a healing and empowerment team offering the opportunities of new beginnings in a safe environment.
• Be willing to deal with women from many different ethnic, religious and socio-economic backgrounds; support staff will need to demonstrate a tolerance and an acceptance of these differences in a non-judgemental manner.
• Be committed to helping women and children in crisis and distress.
• Be reliable in their work commitment, communicating with the Team Leader or Administrator any problems they have.
• Be willing to participate in staff meetings where possible, approx each 8 weeks. At these meetings, decisions affecting staff are made, and some training occurs.
• Be willing to take advantage of learning opportunities, including outside training.
• Be a committed Christian and/or able to work within a Christian environment.

THE URGENCY OF THE NEED:

The total annual cost of domestic violence to the Australian economy for 2002-2003 was $8.1 billion.

It has been identified that where there is domestic violence in the home there is likely to be child abuse occurring – in fact domestic violence is a form of child abuse.

Intimate partner violence contributes more to the health burden of the population of women than illicit drugs, alcohol, physical inactivity, body weight, cholesterol, blood pressure or tobacco. The greatest health burden is associated with mental health problems, including suicide, drug use and risky levels of smoking and alcohol consumption.

Women and children are often forced to leave their homes to escape domestic violence. They face not only the loss of their homes but also the disruption of their social support, as well as children’s schooling and social networks.

[Quoted from the Australian Domestic Family Violence Clearinghouse May 2007 Stakeholder Paper No.1]