Volunteering is steeped in the history and culture of MI Fellowship, the organisation having developed as a direct result of the efforts of volunteer family members seeking to improve the life chances of people with mental illness.
Our volunteers are people from all walks of life, ages and cultural backgrounds. They are community members, people who have mental illness, their family members and friends who bring valued life experience, enthusiasm, professional expertise and compassion to this organisation.
MI Fellowship volunteers visit, type, teach, inform, answer our Helpline - our volunteers are notoriously generous with their time and expertise, and are always willing to lend a hand! Volunteers are involved with the Mental Illness Fellowship in many roles including:
Fill out this form to express interest in learning more about volunteering, or scroll down to see our current opportunities.
Current volunteer roles
We are currently recruiting for the following roles. To find out more about these roles register your attendance at the next information session (see below) or contact us on 8486 4250:
- Volunteer Visitors – Visit someone in your local community who is recovering from a mental illness. Your visits will be social and recreational and will assist your partner to reconnect with their local community. Visits are for 3hrs/fortnight and training is provided. If you can commit to this role for a minimum of 12 months we’d love to hear from you.
As a Volunteer Visitor you will:
- Provide companionship for a person recovering from a mental illness
- Display empathetic and supportive qualities
- Model social interaction
- Respect the needs of the person you are visiting
- Gently encourage your friend to engage in community activities
Click here to download the Volunteer Visitor position description
- Op Shop Assistants; Northcote & Kew –
We are currently on the look-out for volunteers who have retail or customer services experience to work in our Kew & Northcote Op Shops. We are after volunteers interested in a Supervisor role and can commit to 1-2 full days/week as well as Assistants who can commit to a 3hr shift a week. If you have the relevant experience we would love to hear from you.
Click here to download the Op Shop Assistant position description
- Helpline Volunteers –
We are now recruiting volunteers for our telephone helpline which provides information, referrals and support to members of the Victorian community. This service is peer-based which means all volunteers are either someone with a mental illness or have a direct experience with mental illness as a family member or carer. If this is you and you can commit to a 4hr shift a week for a minimum of 12 months we’d love to hear from you.
Click here to download the Helpline Volunteer position description
As a volunteer
- You will be covered by insurance while volunteering. Our insurance policies include personal accident, public liability and professional indemnity.
- You can expect that all information of a personal nature will be secure and accessed by authorised personnel only.
- You will report directly to a Volunteer Supervisor who will provide ongoing support and supervision along with the Co-ordinator— Volunteers & Helpline.
- You may be required to undergo a successful police check and, depending on the nature of your work, a working with children check.
- You will belong to a community of people who contribute their time in support of people with mental illness, their family and friends.
- All volunteers are provided with a job description, support, training and recognition.
How do I become a volunteer?
- Attend a Volunteer Information Session (see below) where you will learn about the mission and values of MI Fellowship and how you can support this through volunteering.
- Complete a Volunteer Application Form which includes a ‘Consent to Police Check’ form requiring personal identification.
- Once we have received this information we will register your application and arrange an interview with the Volunteer Supervisor for the area you’re interested in.
- Upon successful completion of the interview you will be either placed in a role or enrolled in training relevant to your volunteer position.
Volunteer Enquiries
To hear more about volunteering opportunities within MI Fellowship register your attendance at our next Volunteer Information Session by contacting us on 8486 4200 or via e-mail at volunteering@mifellowship.org
Information Session details
Wednesday 24th March 2010
3:30pm – 4:30pm
MI Fellowship
276 Heidelberg Road
Fairfied VIC 3101
Melways Reference: Map 30 H12
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