Become a Volunteer

At CARAD we have a formal volunteer program with clear job descriptions, volunteer training and clearances and checks.

1. Book your free place and attend an information session to learn all about the organisation, volunteer roles available, the application process. You will collect the application and police clearance paperwork at this session.
2. Submit application and 100 points of id. This will register you for the next available Volunteer Training called Building Bridges
3. Successfully complete Building Bridges training
4. Express interest in your top 3 vacant roles
5. Orientation and onsite training

CARAD’s office space has limitted capacity so we are generously hosted by supporting organisations. Although these spaces hold a much larger number of people we must adhere to their capacity and COVID 19 guidelines. If there are no more tickets left please keep an eye out on the website where the updated details will be published when the next session has been confirmed.

At CARAD we create volunteer roles from our Clients need. All roles that are client facing require a minimum of 6 month commitment. Our most popular roles are: • Opening Doors Program • CARAD Food Bank • Client Services – Client Support • Fare Go Food truck • Volunteer Services – Administration and Support

The best way to express your interest is to attend an information session and then submit your application. We don’t receive general expressions of interest. We advertise vacant volunteer roles to our active volunteer pool regularly and this is not publicly available.

At CARAD all of our roles that provide direct client support or work closely with staff on providing essential services to clients and are viewed as long term positions (requiring a minimum of a 6 month commitment). It is important to us that you have a meaningful role, that our clients are provided with stability and consistency where possible and that we are responsible with the resources that we invest in training and onboarding new team members. Occasionally we do have one-off roles offered to the active volunteer pool. For example supporting a client transport donated items to their home. More commonly we do have some casual roles, volunteers would be in a pool and are able to opt in for casual roles as the need arises.

This varies according to the role. We adhere to the National Volunteer Standards and our volunteer roles do not exceed 16 hours per week.

• Opening Doors roles are usually a 1 to 2 hours weekly
• Food Bank roles are usually a 2 to 3 hours weekly
• Volunteer Services Administration roles 3 to 4 hours weekly
• Fare Go Canteen Support roles 3 to 4 hours weekly

Yes you can. Some of our volunteers in the Opening Doors Program and Client Services Material Aid team are full time workers. Opening Doors roles are one on one client support roles where meeting time can be agreed upon with the client. If providing support to a school aged student support takes place after school hours (an hour time block from 4.00pm to 6.00pm) or occasionally on Saturdays. Client Services Material Aid roles are remote roles sourcing items for clients in your own time. Please note that most other CARAD volunteer roles operate during business hours Monday to Friday.

CARAD holds monthly Volunteer Information evenings and our Volunteer Training evenings Building Bridges are offered once per quarter (once every 3 months). New volunteers will be active in each quarter.

All Food Bank and administration roles are based at the CARAD office, 245 Stirling Street. Client support roles are out in the community spanning the Perth metropolitan area.

This is not a problem at all. We will provide you with a comprehensive background on visa processes, flight, refuge and detention, working with people that have experienced torture and trauma and cultural competency in your Building Bridges training. We encourage you to read and learn as much as you can about the issues facing Asylum Seekers in our community.

Yes you can. All active volunteers are emailed with monthly volunteer opportunities which they express interest in. This means you can choose the role that suits your availability and skills. The matching process is based on the volunteer that best meets the clients needs. Volunteers are always offered similar opportunities if their first preference is not available.

You can eventually hold more than one CARAD volunteer role. Although you will be encouraged to list 3 or more roles that you are interested in, you will be placed in one role for at least 6 months (especially if this is the first time volunteering with CARAD). This allows you to get a feel for the role and allows you to settle into a routine of volunteering. Self care and work life balance is strongly encouraged.

There are many Corporate Volunteer programs that engage in supporting our Food Bank through making up pre made pantry and hygiene packs and delivering them to the CARAD office. For more information on this please email foodbank@carad.org.au

As most volunteer roles require an ongoing commitment we do not partner with Corporate Volunteers to fill our main volunteer roles.

Please get in touch with any ideas on how your corporate volunteers can support our clients office@carad.org.au

This length of becoming a volunteer largely depends on your availability. If you are able to attend the next available information session, submit your completed application quickly and attend the next available Building Bridges training it could be as fast as 4 to 8 weeks. Building Bridges training is offered once per quarter.

Yes. Almost all of our roles will require you to have a current WWCC and National Volunteers Police Check. We will pay for your police clearance and all you will need to provide is your signed consent form and 100 points of certified id.

We will provide you with pre-signed Working With Children Check application form at the end of Building Bridges. This will sponsor you to receive the reduced volunteer rate when you lodge your application at Australia post. This is at your expense.

Unfortunately most of our volunteer roles do involve one on one client support and does need someone with access to transport, who is culturally competent and trauma informed. This means most of our long term roles are not suited to people under 18. There are so many ways that you can support CARAD and our clients while you are under 18 such as:

• Creatively fundraise for CARAD
• Raise awareness about issues facing asylum seekers in our community
• Donate items or pre made packs to our clients
• Join in on our Christmas Hamper and Back to School appeals which connects you with a specific CARAD family to give tailored items that they most need. As CARAD has only 2 full time staff members our capacity to take on student or work experience placements is limited. We look forward to offering this in the future.