ASRC

Kate

Kitchen Volunteer

With a background in social work and volunteer work for less fortunate people, Kate was drawn to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and the ideals it stands for. Even though Kate has extensive experience in welfare work, in the six years she has volunteered at the ASRC she has actually spent most of her time in the ASRC kitchen preparing lunches and organising food for asylum seekers and other volunteers as part of the ASRC Community Meals Program.

"I've always done advocacy work, so that’s what I thought I’d do here. But I’m not, I’m cooking. If food needs to be brought in I do that Monday, then I cook on Tuesday and clean tea towels” says Kate.

Kate's flexibility in the role she plays and her positive nature are qualities that are essential for a smooth running, enjoyable organisation.

Kate is keen to stress the importance of the work at the centre, and the responsibilities of the volunteers. Apart from being willing to work hard and in a range of areas Kate impresses the need to take the job seriously.

“You really are making a commitment, a commitment that should have the same status as any other commitment, even though you’re doing it for free. But take the time to have fun too, enjoy the company. Your pay at the ASRC is satisfaction.”

Despite being involved in advocacy for many years, Kate admits she didn’t know very much about asylum seekers in Australia before coming to the ASRC. Armed only with an awareness of the political debates surrounding people seeking asylum she decided she wanted to be a positive force in whatever way she could.

“Since starting at the ASRC I’ve met other volunteers and members and my knowledge of people has grown. The asylum seekers themselves are amazing, generous people.”

Though working at the ASRC isn’t without challenges, says Kate. “I think it’s frustrating to see people who you know would make fantastic Australians…put through what they’re put through. Especially when there are young people trying to get the best start in life.”

Yet Kate says this simply serves to highlight the importance of the work the ASRC does, and the volunteers who give up their time to help. “[The ASRC] is a very idealistic place. But you need that; the word could do with a hell of a lot of idealism. We’ve got enough pragmatic people.”

Estinelle

Employment Caseworker

After completing a Certificate in Employment at Tafe, Estinelle sought out a way to put her skills to use. She began at the ASRC in March 2009 and took on the role of Employment Casework, seeking to find asylum seekers with the right to work paid employment. The program, she explains, is made up of different units working together, including education, training and work experience. Her role is to act as a job agency, assisting members to seek employment.

“I volunteer one day per week, every Tuesday. It’s pretty flexible, as long as you let the coordinator know what you’re doing,” says Estinelle.

“When I am with clients, there are some steps to follow. The first appointment is to get to know the client, what they are looking for, and their skills and qualifications.” While her certificate gives her the qualifications to fill the role, she says that she also requires a range of skills in order to be an effective member of the ASRC team; patience and honesty with members among them.

“You have to be realistic, and tell the member ‘this is how it works’. Being able to say things openly, honestly, with respect, and being flexible, patient and listening are important.”

Estinelle’s role, along with every volunteer role, is crucial to the running of the ASRC and what makes it possible for the centre to continue. She believes that finding the balance between volunteering and private life is important to your enjoyment at the centre.

“It’s very important to have an open mind about your role at the ASRC. If you know exactly what your role is, you can balance yourself. The expectations of the role were hard at first, but after a few weeks I found my balance between my studies [and] my private life.”

Volunteering at the centre requires commitment and responsibility, but the rewards are equally great, and there is always support from members and other volunteers.

The passion and enthusiasm at the ASRC is motivating, says Estinelle. “[ASRC founder] Kon really inspires me, because he has all this passion in him”, and so too do the members.

Estinelle also claims that the satisfaction of knowing you are helping people makes the volunteering even more enjoyable. “You get someone who is new in the country, and doesn’t know how things work, and you get to be useful and help them and you can say ‘I helped this person get a permanent job, I contributed to that.”

On top of this are the skills that Estinelle picked up as a result of her time at the centre. She says that she learns as many new skills as the asylum seekers she helps.

“I’m here to assist them, and I like to be part of their success, but it also gives me new skills as well, and strengthens the other skills I have as well. I grow. It’s really eye opening and a fantastic opportunity to volunteer here. I was speaking to a member the other day who told me that she thinks she is falling in love with the place, I told her ‘me too!’. She replied ‘I think you already have, I can see it in your eyes!’”

Caspar

Volunteer Support

After travelling overseas Casper returned to Melbourne to go to university, but was also left with a desire to help people from troubled countries make an easier transition to living in Australia. Casper now studies International Development and has been volunteering at the ASRC for the past seven months.

“I work in volunteer support and my role changes every week. I often compile the newsletter bulletin for the week…as well as doing a lot of admin work, data entry, filing and organisation,” says Casper.

“In terms of the process that people go through when they arrive in Australia I was pretty ignorant of the entire thing…the experience here is invaluable, and is getting me ready for graduation.”

Although Casper is busy with studying, he also recognises the fact that any amount of volunteering can be hugely beneficial to an organisation such as the ASRC. “There’s always something to do, things that need to be done, events to help with, special days and special jobs. Not all are even that special; they’re just there and need doing.” By volunteering for a few hours every Friday, Casper was able to provide much needed services to the ASRC. It’s a testament to the fact that not all volunteers need to give up three days a week, but rather, if volunteers can commit to half a day and meet that commitment consistently it has a huge impact.

“You have to keep the commitment,” says Casper. “We get a lot of people who are keen, and they’re genuinely keen, but if things come up or it doesn’t quite get the momentum it needs then they leave. If you say you can be here, then please be here.”

Casper is also keen to highlight the great atmosphere at the ASRC. He believes that the intimacy you get at the centre cannot be matched by larger organisations, and points to the large array of opportunities and ways of getting involved that the centre offers.

“The best thing about it is that nothing is off limits, you can get involved in anything and also you’re right there with the people. The whole thing is so connected; there is no distance between the asylum seekers who need the help and the guy who started the whole thing. It’s very inspirational.”

The experiences and lessons you can also learn at the ASRC are endless. There is as much room to grow and develop personally as there is the potential to help asylum seekers. This is especially true of younger people and students thinking of volunteering.

“I think more young people need to go out and volunteer in some way,” says Casper. “You’re no more able than when you’re young and you’ve got the time. And you begin to understand how fundamental volunteering and charitable organisations are to the marginalized people in our society.”

“Be ready to learn and to be confronted,” he says, “but in a good way.”

Steve

Caseworker - Counselling

Having worked as a counselor for over twenty years, Steve has a passion for working with people who don’t have much power in our society. After becoming increasingly disenfranchised with how the Australian asylum seeker system was working, he decided to volunteer at the ASRC. Steve has been volunteering for over 12 months, and spends around half a day every Thursday providing professional counseling services for asylum seekers.

“When you’re dealing with people who are quite stressed because of their experience in their country of origin, their journey to Australia and then the fear that they may be sent back to their country of origin can be quite stressful,” says Steve.

He mentions that it is important to learn how to put yourself into you role at the ASRC, but also maintain some professional distance in order to offer real help.

“You’ve got to have a capacity to be passionate about what you’re doing and be able to really jump in and get your hands dirty, but also step back from it. But if you become too clinical your work suffers, so you need that balance between stepping in and stepping back.”

The ASRC is reliant on volunteers providing a strong and enthusiastic commitment to the centre. It is a position that requires organisational skills and an eagerness to help those less fortunate.

“I work with a mix of volunteers and paid stuff,” says Steve, “and the level of commitment here is extraordinarily high, so you can have some good fun.”

“You have to be organised. Because I’m volunteering my time rather than being paid to do it, it has a different flavour to what I do here but it’s still very important”. Also, “if you commit to half a day, assume that it’s going to be longer at times.”

Steve came to the ASRC as a qualified and experienced professional and is eager to highlight the importance of more people doing the same. The ASRC provides free legal, health, counseling and employment consultations, which requires a large amount of time and commitment from skilled professionals in these fields.

“People who have got professional qualifications and a passion should be at the forefront of wanting to get in here and provide the service,” says Steve. “We should be a passionate society. So if you’ve got qualifications and a passion then I think you should be beating the door down to get in.”

The asylum seekers require this level of commitment and service to have the best chance of ensuring a secure future. A point that Steve is keen to emphasise.

“You don’t give a second rate service to people who come to Australia. I think that you should be giving them the best service that we’ve got in this society and country.”

Not only will this benefit the large number of asylum seekers who really need these services, but it is also an opportunity to test and challenge yourself and your professional skills.

“You bring your skills in and you share. You get as much back as you share,” says Steve. “In professional terms I’ve learned a hell of a lot, my skills have been challenged. I think what you put in; you get a whole lot more back.”