Do you want to:

• Help Melbourne's refugee and asylum seeker community?
• Develop your skills and experience (or help others to develop theirs)?
• Meet people of different backgrounds and make new friends?

If you answered yes to any of the above, come join a vibrant and collaborative organisation that truly values your ideas and contribution!

The River Nile Learning Centre (RNLC) provides education programs and services to those refugee and asylum seeker women whose age, visa or personal circumstances prohibit them from being enrolled in formal education or employment.

Sometimes our students need a bit of extra help outside the classroom, so we are seeking volunteers who would like to offer some social support to our students.

Key responsibilities:

• Assisting students to understand and complete simple tasks like completing forms, navigating Centrelink, using digital devices
• Communicating information with clarity, patience and enthusiasm
• Communicating with the RNLC Centre Manager, Community Services and Support Worker, plus other staff/volunteers as required
• Helping to make students feel welcome and supported.

What we are looking for:

• The role may suit retirees, current university students (studying teaching, community development, social work, etc) or those who have recently completed studying themselves
• The ability to relate to students in a friendly and positive manner
• Good interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate cross-culturally
• Patience and reliability (ideally, volunteers would be able to commit to a regular day/time each week during semester).

About us:

RNLC is 100% dependent on grants, donations and fundraising, yet we are fortunate to have a small, dedicated team of staff with a deep personal passion and understanding for our work. In addition to our core programs, we also provide a range of critical services that help students to integrate and thrive in the community (e.g. swimming and driving lessons, a food bank). We are conveniently located just opposite the Queen Victoria market and within a 10 minute walk from Flagstaff station. While our student cohort is women-only, volunteers of all genders are welcome.

For further information, please contact Amanda Turnbull, Volunteer Coordinator at: amanda@rnlc.org.au