• Volunteer
• Contribute to the community in a meaningful and fulfilling way
• Heidelberg Location

Mind Australia is one of the country’s leading community-managed specialist mental health service providers with a range of residential, mobile outreach, centre-based and online services. We have been supporting people living with the day-to-day impacts of mental illness, as well as their families, friends and carers for over 40 years.

We provide practical and motivational support that helps people to develop the skills they need to move on, thrive and improve the quality of their lives. It’s an approach to mental health and wellbeing that looks at the whole person in the context of their daily life. Mind is committed to diversity and social inclusion.

About the role

The Carer Helpline provides telephone support, information and referral to carers of people with a mental illness. Predominately, ‘callers’ are carers of someone with a mental illness (both diagnosed and undiagnosed). The helpline operates Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm.

We are currently looking for volunteers to help cover shifts on the Carer Helpline. The role of the Volunteer at Carer Helpline is to assist callers in understanding how they can best support the person with a mental illness, accessing community supports and mental health services as well as strategies for looking after themselves.

Key Responsibilities

• Commit to volunteering with the Carer Helpline for 12 months, volunteering half a day per fortnight.
• Provide quality telephone/online support, information and referral service to callers to the Carer Helpline.
• Send information/brochures to callers in a timely manner as required.
• Maintain statistical records.
• Volunteers at Carer Helpline are provided with specifically designed telephone training, orientation to the field as well as supervision and support to enable them to work effectively in this role.
• Make a meaningful contribution to the community and a significant difference to the life of someone living with a mental illness/and or their Carer.

What you’ll bring

• Excellent communication and listening skills.
• An understanding of mental illness and its effects on families and other carers.
• A non-judgemental attitude towards people.
• Ability to provide support in a busy environment.
• Computer literacy (Microsoft Office and email) and Internet searching skills.
• Personal experience of supporting someone with a mental illness, an understanding of the mental health system or an understanding of carer issues and carer support services (desirable)
• Previous experience in a similar volunteering position (desirable)

Interested?

To obtain a position description visit Jobs@Mind - reference number 14244. Submit your application online via the button below.

We welcome applications from Indigenous Australians, people with a lived experience of mental ill health and recovery, people with disability, those who identify as LGBTIQ and applicants from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The successful applicant is required to complete comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check and National Police Record Check. Any adverse outcomes of a National Police Record Check may be considered in the context of a risk assessment.