VOLUNTEER
Your time makes all the difference.
Join our volunteer network and help us expand our reach and multiply our impact around the world.
Why Volunteer?
More than 6 million Australians make a difference by volunteering each year, doing a wide range of tasks for a wide range of volunteer involving organisations. People volunteer for many reasons and in many different ways. Some use volunteering as way to gain new skills or add to their CV. Others use it as a way to meet new people, make new friends or try something new. Making a difference to the community and having a sense of purpose are also popular reasons for volunteering. Whatever your own personal reason is for volunteering, rest assured it is a two way exchange – you give but you also gain.
Volunteering
Join team and make huge change happen around Australia and internationally.
Take a look at our volunteering opportunities, from Volunteer roles to our Speaker Network. Whatever you do, you'll be helping bring humane and compassionate policies for people seeking safety in Australia and around the globe. While we cannot predict the wars, conflicts and oppressive regimes that will force people to seek asylum, we can work to ensure that anyone who arrives seeking sanctuary finds the safety and support they deserve, so they can start to rebuild their lives with dignity.
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VOLUNTEER WITH US
VOLUNTEER WITH UFVRA AUSTRALIA
We rely on people who can spend time working closely with refugees to help them rebuild their lives with loving people.
We currently work in Australia, where our linking Centre in moorooka city centre is offering an ever expanding range of services that really help. There are about 9,000 refugees in Australia – the highest number per capita in Australia – and with very little support. They need you to help.
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) UPDATE (25 AUGUST 2020)
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IMPACT ON OUR SERVICE:
In March, the Australia government announced increasingly stringent controls on movement both across borders and within the country. Borders were closed while all non-essential businesses, shops and services had to close including our homeless linking Centre.
While closed, we began providing food to people who have no means of supporting themselves and will be continuing that service as long as is needed. We are very concerned about vulnerable members who treat the Centre as a lifeline and the many refugees who have no means of supporting themselves and no support network within the local community.
The restrictions on movement have now begun to be eased and on June we re-opened the Moorooka homeless link Centre offering limited services. Fortunately, we have our two Managers and a very strong team of Centre Member volunteers who have ensured that we can continue supporting the other Members.
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IMPLICATIONS FOR VOLUNTEERS
We rely on volunteers from many countries to deliver our service. The safety and wellbeing of our volunteers and the people we serve is our top priority.
Brisbane now publishes who can now enter the country. You can see the list on this link where countries are divided into Category A (no restrictions) and Category B (can only enter with a recent negative Covid 19 test result certificate). If you are resident in a country not listed, you will not be allowed to enter Australia.
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As a result, we will now interview volunteer’s resident in either Category, who can come for between 2-4 weeks. However, please check your own country’s restrictions and be aware that the government restrictions can change at short notice. Please also note that the border between Australia nationwide is still under control closed.
This is a fast moving situation so we will be monitoring it closely and continuing to update this page with the latest information.
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AVAILABILITY
We will only book volunteers in about 3 months in advance so we remain flexible. You will be able to apply here.
After nearly 5 years, over 760 people, from 40 nations, aged up to 78 years old have worked with us as volunteers in Australia, Uganda, Kenya and now Ethiopia. They have worked in some of the most challenging circumstances, so we know how you can be effective and how to look after your welfare.
WHAT’S IT LIKE VOLUNTEERING FOR UFVRA Australia?
Volunteering is about doing what is best for the members of the group we work with, but you will find it extremely rewarding. To find out more about what it’s like, read our volunteer stories.
It is an unforgettable experience, you will be doing well from the moment you arrive and all you need is two things: a ready smile and a willingness to work as part of a team. Please apply: you will not regret it.
You can find out more about what we are doing via regular updates on our Facebook pages here a or our Twitter
Things on the ground can change quite quickly, as we try to do what is needed while offering consistency and reliability.
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DO I NEED ANY SPECIAL SKILLS TO VOLUNTEER?
No! All you need is a ready smile and a willingness to get involved with whatever is needed. We do ask you to volunteer for a minimum of two and a maximum of four weeks.
Our centres or volunteers area has a lot of activities that all need volunteers to prepare: checking people in, helping with their enquiries, preparing the resources, playing with the kids and spending time with the members. If you are any good with admin, fundraising, community engagement, welcoming refugees, or work with orphans that is great but you do not need to have any specific knowledge.
Our fantastic Co-ordinator Osman and his brilliant team will show you what to do!
We aim to improve the livelihoods and outcomes for refugees by prioritising the power of loving people and cooperation. Our job is simply to make the resources of the organisation available and ensure they are getting what they need.
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ARE THERE ANY COSTS INVOLVED?
There are many accommodation options and we have some safe and comfortable volunteer apartments that will cost just $20 per night. There are many cheap flights to our operational area overseas not Australia.
We have even more love for volunteers who can raise money for supplies! You will need to set up a fundraising page before you come but we do not ask for any minimum amount. Any funds you raise will make a difference.
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HOW DO I APPLY TO VOLUNTEER WITH UFVRA?
If you would like to volunteer with us, please read the Code-of-Conduct and our Safeguarding Policy (both important documents), before completing our Volunteer Agreement and Application.
After completing the application, you will get an email reply (check your spam folder) asking you to fix a time to talk to one of our Volunteer Interviewers. Reply to the email to let the Interviewers know when you can have a video chat with one of them and they will be able to let you know more. UFVRA THE POWER OF LOVING PEOPLE.
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You are most welcome to applied by filling in the volunteer form below!