St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland’s Volunteer Refugee Tutoring and Community Support (VoRTCS) program provides weekly in-home tutoring support to families from refugee backgrounds in Brisbane to enhance English language skills and encourage families to take up the educational, vocational and social opportunities existing in Australia.

VoRTCS is driven by the belief that everyone in society should feel welcome and a part of the community. VoRTCS is a unique program that links volunteer teams (3+) with refugee families for weekly home tutoring sessions. These weekly visits promote English language skills, provide information about their local area and assist families to feel they are a part of their new community. Our volunteers find it’s a rewarding experience to form connections with a vibrant and diverse cultural group and see their family successfully adapt to life in Australia.

We do not require our volunteers to be experienced tutors or qualified teachers. Rather, we are looking for individuals who feel strongly about helping others, recognise the value in everyone working together and are able to dedicate an hour per week to their tutor group and family.

We are looking for volunteers who meet the following requirements: • are over 16 years of age • have a good level of written and spoken English • are willing to consent to a Criminal History check • are willing to obtain a Working with Children (Blue Card) which we will organise & pay on your behalf • are prepared to complete free tutor training with VoRTCS • are able to commit to the program for 12 months • have cultural sensitivity and awareness • comfortable working in a team