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On-shore Assistants and Sailing Assistants

Sailability WA
Logo for Sailability WA

Some knowledge or interest in sailing would be great for those keen to go out on the boats but is not essential as we can train and mentor you. There are also support roles on shore which are just as important to the participants.

Our Assistants help with the 'meet and greet' of participants and their carers; book people onto boats for their sail; help fit life jackets; assist people along the floating jetties to the boats; help hoist or transfer participants; unload boats; assist as crew on yachts; if experienced skipper dinghy's; help rig and de-rig boats; provide safety boat assistance; and any number of odd jobs that help with the smooth running of the programs.

There are plenty of jobs for everyone and the feedback is that the experience is very rewarding!! Everyone loves to see the pleasure the sailing program brings to the disabled participants. It is a chance for them to have freedom & independence they don’t often experience. Its pretty diverse and our Volunteers enjoy the camaraderie and pleasure it gives to the participants.

During the sailing season the programs run on Wednesday and Thursday mornings in two phases one at 1000 and the next at 1100. Volunteers come to Royal Perth Yacht Club at approx. 0915 to start rigging the boats getting everything ready for when participants arrive at 0930. The morning concludes at approx. 1230 when everything has been de-rigged and packed away.

The activities are as follows:

Wednesday: participants who are mobile enough to get on board a boat without being hoisted from a wheelchair. Keel boats and smaller very stable dinghy's are used for these participants.

Thursday: high support participants who need to be hoisted out of a wheelchair and laid into beanbags in the cockpit of the boats. We also have a motorised pontoon which is set aside for those participants who are unable or too fragile to be lifted from their wheelchairs so they are able to be wheeled on board.

Sunday: participants are mainly physically disabled and are of an experienced level, often racing competitively locally, nationally or internationally. These sailors may require any of the following - support with rigging/de-rigging their boats; help getting ready and into their boats; safety boat support when out on the water.

The most important thing we require is reliability, compassion and flexibility. Experience with disabled people is a bonus, but not essential, you will learn a lot by just being here. By virtue of what we do you will be dealing directly with people with intellectual or/and physical disabilities, so compassion and patience is essential. Our severely disabled participants are hoisted into the boats and accompanied by carers, so no lifting is required by the volunteers.

You can not apply for this role as it is no longer available.