Upon sending your enquiry about this role to the email below, an appointment is made to meet individually, face to face. This allows for more detailed information to help you decide if this project is what you are seeking as a volunteer.

NSW Health requires volunteers to register through a Contingent Worker Program, this involves completing a form, the program coordinator oversees the process of ID, application form, awaiting advice that a stafflink number has been approved based on your application.

The interview is not about qualifications, but about the qualities needed for this role to be meaningful for you and effective for our program.

What follows once a group of new volunteers is approved, is our training program. Feedback from volunteers about the training is positive.

Attending for 1.5 hours once weekly for 5 weeks allows a range of topics and modules to be covered in group format. At the same time we discuss the NSW Health Mandatory training requirements of all staff, including volunteers.

We have seen the importance of this program for the visiting relatives, at a particular point in their carer journey when information is important to them in their role.

Volunteers value the opportunity to engage with us, to attend training, and develop their interest in adult mental health in a practical way.

Benefits:

*Volunteers benefit as this is usually a new experience, which is something volunteers are often drawn to.

*The support offered to volunteers benefits their commitment, allows them to clarify information, ask questions and develop into the role.

*Volunteers associate with people (other volunteers) sharing similar interests, so our group work and training is enjoyable, dynamic, and quickly adds to the knowledge needed for the role.

*Our staff committee which oversees this project values the interest each person brings to the mental health field.

*A monthly calendar allows volunteers to nominate their preference for Wednesday or Thursday for a session of approximately 4 hours.