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Lifeline Melbourne volunteer application

Please fill in the form below and we will contact you shortly.
*Compulsory Fields

Name*

Address*

Suburb*

Postcode*

Phone (home)
Phone (work)
Phone (mobile)
Email
Age*

Gender*



Emergency / next of kin contact
Name*
Address*
Suburb*
Phone (home)
Phone (work)


Phone (mobile)
Relationship to you*


Current employment
 
Current hours and days worked
Place of employment


Student (if relevant)
 
Tertiary institution attending
Course / major

Work history

Qualifications

Have you ever worked for, or been a volunteer for, Wesley Mission Melbourne?

If yes, please provide details


What made you think of being a volunteer for Lifeline Melbourne?





Past and present voluntary work


1. What are some personal qualities and skills you have which would make you an effective telephone counsellor?


2. List three ways in which you anticipate being a volunteer counsellor may benefit you personally / professionally?


3. As Lifeline provides a 24 hour telephone counselling service, volunteers resource the service at all hours. 80% of our calls are received outside of normal work hours (9-5, Monday-Friday). Therefore you need to be albe to do the majority of your shifts outside of these times. After completion of training, your shift commitment is three shifts per month, plus a midnight to 6am shift every three months for the first year, then two shifts per month and a midnight to 6am shift every four months for the second year.
You will also be expected to attend four Continuing Education sessions per year, to aid your ongoing development as a telephone counsellor.
How do you see all the above fitting into your personal / professional schedule?

4. Briefly describe one of your own life experiences (preferably recent) that's taught you something about yourself
a) What was the experience (and how long ago)?

b) What was hardest about the experience for you?

c) What did you learn from it?

d) How do you think this expereince would help you as a counsellor?


e) In what ways do you think this experience might hinder you as a counsellor?

Think about a difficult piece of feedback you received recently - a comment or criticism that had an emotional impact on you. It could be from your partner, child, boss, colleague, friend, lecturer, etc., and you may or may not have agreed with it.
Some examples to help you - someone in your life might have said something like:
- "You're spending too much time at work / out with your friends / on the internet"
- "You're so scary, Mum, no wonder I don't tell you anything"
- "It seems like you're having some difficulty understanding the work here"
- "You're always criticising other people - why don't you look at yourself for a change"

If you haven't received any such feedback recently, please comment on why you think that might be:

What was the feedback?

What was it about the feedback that made it difficult for you to hear?

How did you respond? (e.g. did you have a physiological response, what were you saying in your head, what - if anything - did you say to the other person?)


In hindsight, is this how you would like to have responded? Given the opportunity, what would you like to do differently?

Health

Do you have any injuries, diseases, or conditions (e.g. visual impairment, limited mobility) which might restrict your ability to work as a volunteer?
If yes, please provide details

Additional information

Please specify any additional information about special circumstances that may have a bearing on your application (e.g. length of commitment, transport difficulties)

Training

There is a choice of two training programs every year, March - June or August - November. Trainees can choose to do Day Training (Tuesday 9.30am - 3.30pm) or Evening Training (Thursday 7pm - 10pm). Please note that Evening Training begins and ends with an all day Saturday program. You do not need to indicate yet whether you would like Day or Evening Training. You will be asked to specify this at your Selection Group interview.

Statement


I certify to the best of my knowledge, these particulars are true and correct and that I have not knowingly provided any false or inaccurate information. I also have read the Information Kit provided to me and understand what is required of a Lifeline telephone counsellor.