Volunteer

Join our friendly team and make a difference. Our volunteers are helping us in various ways to support refugees and people seeking asylum across Sydney.

Volunteering at JRS Australia

Our volunteers help us out in so many unique ways supporting the work we do serve, accompany and advocate for refugees and people seeking asylum.

A welcoming place.

At Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS) Australia, we are always looking to welcome new volunteers into our community. Whether you’re driven by an interest in refugees and people seeking asylum, you’re wanting to learn some new skills, or you’re looking to spend time with a group of like-minded individuals who want to give their time to a good cause – there is always a place for you here.

JRS Australia pursues an equal opportunity policy in the recruitment of staff, volunteers, in our partnerships, and in our community engagement work. We welcome all who share the JRS mission to serve, accompany, and advocate for the rights of all forcibly displaced peoples. This means working with those of any faith, religion, gender, race, sexual orientation or any other factor.

We would love to hear from you

If you want to get involved and to make a difference for refugees and people seeking asylum in your local community, please get in touch:

  • Call us on (02) 9098 9336
  • Email our Volunteers Coordinator: volunteers@jrs.org.au
  • Fill in the Volunteer Application Form here

There are many capacities in which we accept volunteers – whether you want to volunteer individually, as a community group, organise corporate volunteering or undertake a student placement or internship. Please get in touch and we can work out the best option for you!

Hear from our Volunteers

Ellen - What I can do Ellen shares her reasons for volunteering.
Ellen - What I can do
Neil - A friendly face Hear from Neil about his experience at our front desk!
Neil - A friendly face
Lynne - Better together Read about Lynne's experience in our Foodbank.
Lynne - Better together

 

There are so many ways you can make a difference

In-Person Roles

  • English teaching role: Every Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Reception: Weekly or fortnightly, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays
  • Foodbank Delivery Driver:  Every Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Food Packers:  Every Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Donation collection: as available and needed.
  • Child Care enrolment/orientation, accompaniment role (as needed).
  • Employment Support: weekly or fortnightly, on Tuesdays or Thursdays. 
  • Women’s Space:  Events and community lunches, child minding, English classes (as needed).
  • Community local volunteering: you can create or coordinate a local volunteer group in your community.

Remote Roles:

  • English teaching role: as agreed.
  • Foodbank: Dispatcher for food deliveries, every Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Intake support volunteer:  Monday – Friday.
  • Employment support:  Communication and impact volunteer. (As needed).
  • General Form Filling Clinic: Opal Concession cards, Medicare, Centrelink, leases and other forms.

Training

JRS provides mandatory induction training to all our incoming volunteers to make sure you feel supported and ready to take on your volunteering role. The induction will cover the history, mission and values of JRS, the work JRS does globally, our Arrupe Project and its services, a help casework study and we will walk you through our comprehensive Volunteer Manual. 

Before the training day, we will ask you to complete an application form and have a short interview.  Police checks will be conducted through VerifyNow and you will need to apply for your own working with children check before you can begin working with us.

Thank you for your interest in serving people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants in vulnerable situations!

Other ways to help:

Visit our ‘Take Action’ page for other ways to help refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia.