ABOUT THE SERVICE

Meals Plus is a place of welcome that envelops people with a sense of belonging to a community when they would otherwise feel alone on their own.

As a non-funded service located at the heart of Parramatta, we continue to serve around 200 hot, nutritious meals each day to over 150 people in need – all free! We open for breakfast and lunch from Monday to Friday. Last year, we served over 65,000 meals and 36,000 coffees to people in need.

Further, Meals Plus is a drop-in centre for people experiencing homelessness, hardship and other crisis. We have laundry and shower facilities available on site, and we can provide food parcels, clothes, and blankets for those doing it tough.

We also host critical services on site regularly to ensure access by those most in need. These services can include Centrelink, Services NSW, NDIS, Legal Aid, housing support and advocacy, and others.

As a Mandarin-speaking volunteer interpreter, you will welcome our guests into our Meals Plus community, direct them to available services and resources, and provide interpretation/translation support to ensure everyone can properly access support.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Welcome all guests to our Meals Plus Service and interacting with guests in a friendly manner to foster a safe and open environment.
• Represent the inclusive values of the Parramatta Mission community.
• Manage crowd flow and access in accordance with relevant instructions and protocols.
• Interpret and translate for Mandarin-speaking guests.
• Assist the Meals Plus team generally in the delivery of services, including attending to telephone and other online queries.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

What we are looking for:

• Ability to communicate in Mandarin is highly desirable.
• Cultural awareness and empathy
• Reliable and committed
• Patience with a friendly disposition
• Understands work activities and follows procedures well

BENEFITS FROM VOLUNTEERING

There is much to be gained from volunteering, including but not limited to:

• Meeting new friends
• Learning new skills
• Getting valuable work experience and training
• Supporting marginalised groups in the local community
• Building self-confidence
• Practising verbal communication skills