By NICOLE VALICEK
LAVERTON Community Centre is recruiting volunteers for emergency relief (ER).
Volunteer co-ordinator Ellen Warren said the important role would be suited to someone who is switched on and has people skills.
“It’s about developing a rapport with people,” she said.
“They need to be a people person and they need to have a good communication.”
For example she said if a woman comes in with a traumatic experience like a relationship break-up, the volunteer is expected to chat with them, build a rapport and get the right information to help them without feeling judged or threatened in any way, shape or form.
“It’s about building a relationship with a client and a lot of the things we will help them with come out of if that relationship can be built.”
The ER volunteer will interview people to access their needs, for example if they require a food parcel, a voucher, if they need assistance prescriptions filled at a pharmacy or if they need to speak to a crisis intervention worker and referred to the Salvation Army.
“They have a conversation and are to assess to what their needs are,” Ms Warren said.
“Fundamentally were helping people at risk, people who are marginalised, people who don’t have the basic items they need.”
All training is provided.
Ms Warren said all volunteers develop a sense of community and joy in knowing they are helping others.
She said they have five ER volunteers on the rooster, and would ideally like an additional person to relieve people if they need time off.
