Become a Volunteer
Volunteer Work
Hundreds of people have volunteered with CASE since its
inception, providing thousands of hours of time to ensure the
legal rights of refugees are upheld. In 2011 a total of 2267
hours of volunteers time was recorded. Each month time is
donated by a team of volunteer lawyers, law and social work
students and migration agents. Without their continued
support, CASE would not have been able to achieve all it has in
such a short time.
If you are a Registered Migration Agent wishing to
volunteer - please contact our office, otherwise
applications to volunteer in 2012 are now
closed.
Applications will be open from 1st-30th November 2012, if you wish
to apply for a position in 2013. The job descriptions
and training requirements are listed here, along with the Volunteer
Application Form.
Should you be interested in volunteering with CASE in the
future, we ask that you first read the Volunteer Position
descriptions listed here:
1/ Client Interviewers
2/ Migration Agents
for the Family Reunion Project
3/ Office Volunteers
4/ Interpreters and
Translators
Volunteer Requirements
CASE volunteers will be required to:
- Attend an informal interview
- Provide a Statutory Declaration and Confidentiality
Statement
- Complete a Membership Form and Volunteer Application Form and
pay the membership fee
- Attend 3 seperate training sessions
Volunteer Training
BUILDING BRIDGES TRAINING
This training is held in conjunction with CARAD, ASeTTS,
ERC and Women's Health Care. We discuss how to relate to and
interview clients from different cultures who have experienced
torture & trauma. It also covers volunteer boundaries,
appropriate behaviour and working with interpreters. This training
takes place quarterly throughout the year on a Saturday from
9am-3pm.
LEGAL TRAINING
The Principal Solicitor/ Migration Agent will conduct a 2.5hour
legal training session where we explain our work for asylum seekers
and those wishing to bring family members to Australia. We will
discuss different visa types, DIAC forms, our clinic structure and
volunteer requirements. This training is conducted at the CASE
office and takes place on a Saturday from 9am - 12pm.
LEAP MIGRATION MANAGER
CASE uses the LEAP Migration Manager Database to capture
information, forms and documents related to our clients. This
training can be arranged on an individual basis as required.
Volunteer Application
CASE has been advised by the Legal Practice Board that, if you
are a lawyer and have been admitted you must hold a current
Practicing Certificate if you wish to volunteer in any capacity
within our organisation.
Please note that for Saturday and Tuesday Night Client Interviews
we require a commitment of 12 months and for Weekday client
interviews we require as a minimum qualification that you are a 3rd
or 4th Year Law student and provide a 6 - 12 month
commitment. VOLUNTEER APPLICATION FORM .
Volunteer Testimonials
I cannot begin to describe how much I have gained during my
time at CASE for Refugees, on a both an academic and a personal
level. As a student I have gained an abundance of
knowledge and experience that have been invaluable in both
grounding and encouraging my goals. Sure I could have gained
similar levels of professional experience and life skills on
work-experience; however that would never compare to volunteering
at CASE. Apart from the fact that CASE is more of a home than an
office, and as a volunteer your time and efforts are greatly
appreciated, the most influential factor in volunteering at CASE
has been more than the sense of worth and achievement; is the sense
of purpose.
Law student at Notre Dame and CASE
Volunteer
I have been a volunteer at CASE for Refugees for four years.
When I first started volunteering at CASE, I undertook mainly
administrative work - filing, drafting letters to clients and
answering client enquiries. However, as time went on, I began to
take on more legal/migration work and was given the opportunity to
conduct client interviews under the supervision of a migration
agent. I have learnt so much during my time at CASE. I have learnt
how to use interpreters, how to interact with clients, how to
complete visa application forms and how to draft effective
statutory declarations and submissions. However, I was not only
given the opportunity to learn a great deal, but I have also been
blessed to work with some truly amazing people, and have been able
to go home every week knowing that I have done truly valuable work
and that I have made a difference in people's lives."
Law student and CASE volunteer