VOLUNTEERING (SETTLEMENT PROGRAMS) OVERVIEW

Thank you for your enquiry regarding volunteer work with Northern Settlement Services (NSS).

NSS is the provider of Settlement Programs (funded by Department of Social Services) in the Newcastle, Maitland, and Lake Macquarie areas, for refugee & migrant clients in their first 5 years of settlement.  Since 2003, over 2000 clients have arrived in this region, and many have benefitted greatly from volunteer support in a range of programs co-ordinated by NSS.  Up to 2011, the client groups arrived mainly from African countries, including Sudan, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Burundi, Liberia, Mauritania, and Ethiopia.  Since 2012, large numbers of refugee families from Afghanistan have settled this region, hence many NSS volunteers are currently supporting our Afghan clients.  From 2016, Syrian refugees began arriving, and these clients are starting to access our programs.

Volunteering in the NSS Settlement Team is divided into two areas: Educational Programs for school students, and Welfare Programs for adults/families.  Each is managed by a specialist Co-ordinator.

Educational Programs – Michael Freund

Tutoring students in one of our after-school programs:

§  Homework Centres: (approx. 10 - 15 volunteers at each centre)

               Monday 3:15-4:45pm             Islington Primary School (K-Yr.6)

               Tuesday 3:00-4:30pm            Jesmond Primary School (K-Yr.6)

               Wednesday 3:00-4:30pm        Heaton Primary School (K-Yr.6)

               Thursday 3:00-4:30pm           Waratah Technology Campus (Yr.7-10)

§  Study Groups: (approx. 5 volunteers at each group)

               Wednesday 1:30-3:00pm        Jesmond Senior Campus (Yr.11-12)

               Wednesday 3:15-4:30pm        St. Francis Xavier's College (Yr.11-12)

Welfare Programs – Cassie Galliott

§  Adult Literacy: Assisting adult clients to improve their English language skills.

§  Citizenship Assistance: Supporting clients through the citizenship booklet, online test training, and to help prepare clients for the Citizenship Test.

§  Driving Supervision: Providing supervision of a learner driver using client’s own car. This program operates only if a client has use of their own vehicle and they must provide proof of registration, insurance etc.
§  Annual Events: Assisting at public events, eg. Harmony Day, Refugee Week.

→ If you are interested in participating in our Volunteer Programs, please read the information on How To Become A Volunteer.

Thank you.