Sustaining Connection Volunteers

Sustaining Connection Volunteer

Help someone feel connected, valued and part of their community

St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is seeking compassionate and reliable volunteers to support people who have previously experienced homelessness and have successfully established and maintained a tenancy throughout Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.

For some people, securing a home is only one part of rebuilding their life. Social isolation and loneliness can continue long after housing has been secured, and regular contact with a trusted person can make a meaningful difference.

Through our Sustaining Connection Program, volunteers will provide regular social contact and companionship to participants who no longer require active homelessness case management but would benefit from ongoing connection.

What will the role involve?

Depending on the participant and their preferences, volunteer contact may include:

• a regular phone call or catch-up
• meeting for a coffee or walk
• conversation and companionship
• encouraging connection with local community activities
• helping someone build confidence in reconnecting with their community and
• providing consistent, respectful and friendly social contact.

This is not a case management or counselling role. Volunteers are there to provide connection, companionship and encouragement, with clear support and escalation pathways available through Vinnies.

We are looking for volunteers who are:

• warm, respectful and non-judgemental
• good listeners
• reliable and able to maintain consistent contact
• comfortable building relationships with people from diverse backgrounds
• able to maintain appropriate boundaries and
• passionate about reducing loneliness and social isolation.

Commitment

We are looking for volunteers who can provide regular contact, generally around once per month, with the potential for additional contact depending on the agreed arrangement.

Volunteers will receive appropriate induction, training and ongoing support. Please note that the areas listed are approximate locations only and could have participants across the entire Greater Newcastle Region.

 

Vinnies

The St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) assists people experiencing poverty and inequality and works to shape a more just and compassionate society. We assist in offering “a hand up” to people in need. We do this by respecting their dignity, sharing our hope, and encouraging them to take control of their own destiny.

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW is committed to being a Child Safe Organisation. Vinnies has developed a clear, accountable and transparent Policy and Procedures to ensure that it complies with relevant legislation and that all children and young people who come into contact with Vinnies are kept safe and are supported to the best of our capacity.

St Vincent de Paul Society (NSW) is an Equal Opportunity host and is committed to engaging a diverse workforce. Vinnies strongly encourages applications from people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and mature aged applicants.