| COUNCIL | DESCRIPTION |
| Social Support Program (ie“Lunch with the Bunch”) | This program is designed as an opportunity for social contact for frail and elderly people who live in their homes. Groups meet on a regular basis for lunch at a local venue. Volunteers provide transport, either in a Council car or their own car, and eat lunch with the resident, assisting them when necessary
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| Delivered Meals (formerly "Meals on Wheels) | This program aims to provide nutritious and culturally appropriate meals to residents who are frail and aged who may also have a disability. Volunteers are the backbone of the service by doing tasks such as delivering meals appropriately, assisting clients to fill in menu plans, collecting payment for meals and issuing receipts, monitoring welfare of residents and communicating messages back to the Delivered Meals Coordinator.
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| Children’s Services | Volunteers assist children with disabilities and special needs or children from a non-English speaking background in child care centres, kindergarten, family day care, outside school hours care programs and vacation care programs. Assisting in providing guidance and encouragement, opportunities for the children's social interaction and safeguarding children to prevent injury.
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| Breakaway and Disability Services | Volunteers assist in providing quality respite to children and young people with disabilities. Provide a safe and fun environment for children and young people to interact and develop social skills. The duties may include, working with children and young people with disabilities, providing personal care to children with additional needs, encouraging the development of new skills and independence to children and young people with disabilities, setting up the facilities for the days activities and working with in a team environment.
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| Administration / Customer Support | Wyndham City Council Community Services Department requires assistance within the administration and customer service areas. This department provides administrative support to both the Family Services Departments and the Social Development Departments of Council. Duties may include, providing administrative support, reception and customer service, switchboard operation, distribution of incoming and outgoing mail and cash receipting and balancing of monies
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| Internet Café | This is a program focusing on using computer technology to assist residents with the management of their daily living tasks such as shopping, banking, e-mail and information / research. Volunteers are trained to provide supported internet access for residents and to assist residents to develop their own computer / internet skills.
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| Library Services | Werribee CBD and Hoppers Crossing libraries use volunteers in a number of ways. The task given to volunteers in the library depend upon priorities at the time but include shelving, covering books, folding notices, replacing barcodes on books and stamping withdrawn books…The Housebound service to library patrons relies on regular volunteers. This service involves the volunteers choosing, delivering and returning books for residents whom are not able to come to the library themselves. The hours that volunteers can work is anywhere between 9am - 5pm and can be as long or short a period of time as they wish.
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| Planned Activity Group (Formerly ADASS) | This program provides social support for frail elderly people. Residents are brought to the Community Centre by bus and stay with staff and volunteers for lunch and activities. Volunteers can assist in a variety of ways, including reading or telling stories, playing music or sing a longs, assisting with craft activities, outings and writing newsletters for client based activities.
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| Visitor Information Centre | The centre provides tourist information to visitors and residents through face to face contact, and via phone, fax and e-mail. Volunteers are involved in a range of tasks that includes providing tourist and local information both over the counter and telephone; ensuring brochures racks are fully stocked and supplies are maintained; assisting with the preparation for outdoor events; assisting with other administrative tasks and ensuring the centre is kept neat, tidy and welcoming.
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| Westbay Connect 121 Transport or | The Westbay Connect 121 Transport Program and Community Coach Volunteer Drivers aim to provide support to frail aged and disabled residents' requests for transport to appointments, shopping or social activities and also enabling them to participate in programs or activities.
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| Community Coach Drivers / Community Bus Jockey | Wyndham City Council Community Transport Service provides door to door transport for frail, elderly and disabled people to enable them to participate in programs and activities. A volunteer Coach Driver or Coach Bus Jockey provides assistance to clients with boarding and departing the community coach as well as social interaction. There are also opportunities to accompanying clients on day trips to assist with their mobility and personal needs. |
| WYNDHAM COMMUNITY AGENCIES |
DESCRIPTION |
| Community Centres:
| Local Community Centres providing a wide variety of community services for residents and is a hub of local activity. Most centres offer such services as M&CH, Kindergarten, Activity groups, playgroups, adult education. |
| Service Clubs:
| Service Clubs include organisations such as Lions Club, Apex Clubs, Rotary Clubs, Probus Clubs, Masonic Lodges, Scouts, Guides, Rovers etc |
| Social Support Agencies:
| Agencies offering support and assistance to residents. Agencies include Do Care, MacKillop Family Services, Isis Primary Care, Werribee Support & Housing, Werribee Legal Service, Mercy Western Palliative Care and Werribee Mercy Hospital Volunteer Program. |
| Churches / Religious Organisations: | Variety of non- denominational, religious organisations offering community support to residents. |
| Aged Service Agencies: | Volunteers are needed to work one to one with residents and assist with friendship activities such as board games, bus trips and group activities and sessions in organised elderly citizens groups or aged care facilities. Also there is a need for volunteering as a grandparent - through The Foster Grandparent Scheme' where an aged volunteer visits a child, support to family, child centred activities such as reading, games. Cooking and music, walks and outings, visits to foster grandparents home. |
| Disability Service Agencies: | Programs such as Community Friend Program, Citizens Advocacy Western region, Do Care Western Region, MacKillop Family Services, Isis Primary Care require volunteers to assist with disabled children, youth, adults and elderly to assist in recreational and life skills etc. |
| Culturally & Linguistically Diverse: | Local Multi cultural elderly citizens groups meet weekly / monthly, Maltese Community Council of Victoria Inc as well Co As It ( Italian Assistance Association) Visitation Program are examples of programs that utilise multi-lingual volunteers to offer support to residents with a language barrier. |
| Education / School Services: | Volunteers are needed for a variety of child based activities such as Volunteer Tutor Program, Walking School Bus, Learning Assistance Programs, School canteens, school reading programs, excursions etc as well as maintenance activities within local school communities. |
| Sporting / Recreation Clubs: | Many sporting and recreation clubs exists within Wyndham and all have a variety of needs for volunteers. Time marshalling etc at Little Athletics, umpiring at football, cricket or netball, line marking at football or soccer, refereeing at basketball or soccer are some areas that volunteers are in heavy demand. |
| Environmental Clubs: | Many environmental groups exist that happily accept volunteers, such as Victoria State Rose Garden Supporters, Friends of Werribee Park, Werribee River Recovery, etc. |
| Emergency Services: | Emergency Services include organisations such as Country Fire Authority, State Emergency Services etc
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