EVERY LITTLE COUNTS

Online Membership form
PDF Membership form

Armidale Sanctuary welcomes new members. We ask for a small one off joining fee.  Members are welcome to attend meetings and participate in activities.

You can join as a volunteer, working with families or individuals, or just as a supporter (volunteer activities described below). We understand that not everyone can make an ongoing commitment, but every little bit counts!

  1. If you wish to join please complete the membership by selecting the online form or download the PDF membership form using either of the links above.
  2. If you wish to join as a volunteer, you will first need to have a Working with Children Check (WWCC). You can apply for this check online for free and go in to service NSW to confirm your identity and recieve your WWCC number:  https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-working-children-check
    This number is required on the application.
  3. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or would like further information on some aspect of our organisation.

Here are some volunteering opportunities for working with the current Ezidi families.

Listening to children read their graded readers in their own home, following up any language activities provided by schools and the children’s EAL/D teachers, and just interacting and having fun with the family. Volunteers sent in pairs at a time that suits both the family and the volunteer. This is a great opportunity to visit and get to know a family, practice English and play games. No qualifications in teaching needed! Just someone willing to do relationship. 

To volunteer for this opportunity you will need to:

  • Obtain a Working With Children Check and become a member of Armidale Sanctuary. Membership will cover public liability insurance.
  • A National Police Check will then be organized and you will be asked to attend one of the regular Code of Conduct / Cultural Awareness sessions.

There are opportunities currently to drive a child with a parent to Homework Centre at Drummond MPS on a Wednesday afternoon with some volunteer drivers choosing to stay and volunteer at the Homework Centre.

Harwood Swim School is also offering free swimming lessons at 5 pm on a Thursday afternoon at TAS, but for some families the distance is an issue, especially in the winter months – this is also an opening – ability to swim is so important for safe recreation in Australia.

Armidale Sanctuary is also needing more volunteers to provide transport to medical appointments, in Armidale, Tamworth or Coffs Harbour.

Helping adults learn and practice their English is a good way to become involved in a fun and relaxed way. No prior experience in teaching required! Just a willingness to socialise and interact with some of the adults of the community. Some adults also require help with other things such as accessing services, making doctor’s appointments and understanding notices received in the mail or from their children’s school. There are also opportunities to support pregnant women, or be involved in group activities. If this interests you, let us know! Please note that we will still require you to get a WWCC in the case that children will be present. 

If you do not want to sign up for any of the ongoing opportunities, Armidale Sanctuary also gets specific requests from the refugee community that you can assist with. If you become a member, you will recieve emails calling for volunteers to assist with these specific requests. Examples may include helping someone with their shopping, visiting an individual with particular needs of social support etc.

Operates on a Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon from 3:00 – 4:45. Hosted by Drummond MPS, in the school library and open to English as an Additional Language students from any of the public primary and high schools in Armidale. You would work with one or two children, assisting with their homework or with language activities supplied by the coordinator.

This opportunity comes under the Northern Settlement Services banner. To register for volunteering  please go to the NSS website  https://nsservices.com.au/ From there go to the volunteer tab (at the top of the page). Once on the volunteer page press the ‘Apply online now’ button which is located in the centre of the page. Doing this will generate an online form to fill out and submit. The form will go straight to NSS reception in Newcastle and then be vetted and sent on to the Armidale Office for the local project worker, Lance McNamara.