About the program

The Bike Shed Volunteer will support young people in the assembly, recycling and building bicycles from donated and new parts. The primary focus is on the opportunity for young people to engage in a program which will support the development of skills for young people by creating a safe space for them to build meaningful relationships whilst participating in a creative activity. Through the practical hands-on learning experience, it is envisaged that the following benefits to the child or young person will be achieved:

• increased social inclusion
• enhanced peer relationships
• development of skills
• increased self-esteem and self-confidence; and
• increased capacity to engage in relevant activities
• Increased independence

Your role

You will be spending time with young people, who are within the out of home care system. Offering an open ear and guidance, while you work on projects together. This role is central to the Bike Shed Program in Barwon, which has been established to enrich the lives of young people living in either– foster care or residential care. This position reports to Case Worker responsible for the running of the Bike Shed Program.

Possible tasks

Volunteer responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following:

• taking old bikes apart
• assisting young people in setting up their workspace
• patiently explaining and instructing young people how to build a new bike from the ground up
• spraying bike parts with paint
• identifying missing or faulty parts

You will be required to

• Sign and actively abide by MacKillop’s Code of Conduct
• Observe and actively support MacKillop’s P.8 People and Workplace Policy
• Attend mandatory and other training as required
• Participate in and promote continuous quality improvement processes
• Promote an environment that is culturally safe and strengths focussed
• Abide by principles and commitments of the Sanctuary Framework

Key selection criteria

The Bike Shed Volunteer will need:

• the ability to build positive relationships with young people;
• have a non-judgmental approach;
• have an affinity for working with bikes and be comfortable in a shed environment;
• a commitment to supporting people in difficult circumstances;
• demonstrate patience, empathy and listening skills;
• adopt a flexible approach; and
• teamworking skills

Our main goals

• fostering self-worth in the young people through engagement in an activity where they can succeed
• Teaching skills
• promoting teamwork and peer relationships
• creating an environment for young people to experiment with independent project planning
• offering a safe space for vulnerable young people
• creating fully functional bicycles out of old bikes
• encouraging the reduction of waste and supporting our young people to be conscious of our environment