• Minimum commitment of 12 months • 1-4 hours per week. Evenings and weekends

The program Red Cross works with individuals living with a diagnosed mental illness to improve wellbeing and social connection and support their recovery. We do this by matching volunteers with socially isolated individuals living with a mental illness, to participate in social activities together. The Mates program focusses on the person, their strengths and abilities, rather than their mental illness.

The opportunity Do you want to make a difference - pay it forward? Whatever your motivation, be it gaining experience for work, filling in time, giving back or developing your own social connections you will be rewarded by volunteering in this wonderful program. This role suits someone over the age of 18 who is a good listener, has empathy and is able to spend hour a week engaging in social activities.

The impact As a MATES volunteer, you'll brighten the life of someone suffering vulnerability by offering them companionship and friendship and helping to open doors to other new friendships. Red Cross will ensure you have training, ongoing support and access to other opportunities within the World's largest humanitarian network. For more information, please contact Rochelle Hughes on  0401 220 429 on Monday - Thursday. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.