If you would like to volunteer…

Bridge is a small organisation relying completely on the support of our committee members, volunteers and our donors. With no address other than a post office box and no office space and equipment, all volunteers including committee members work at their own offices/homes using facilities they provide. With the exception of our face-to-face monthly committee meetings, all communications use emails, phones, and teleconferences.
The committee’s major work is to raise funds and then distribute to those in desperate need. With money from grants currently providing the majority of our funds, writing grant applications is a priority.
Informing Bridge’s donors of the achievements that have been accomplished with their help is also critical, as is keeping all supporters abreast of the challenges facing Bridge and Bridge’s current and future clients. We try to do this currently via newsletters, emails and social media and, of course, through our Annual Report.
Events to raise awareness, both of the plight of asylum seekers and the existence of Bridge, are also important. Regrettably, the committee does not have the capacity at this time to work on events. Perhaps future volunteers might allow us to address this shortfall.
We would welcome volunteers willing to work with the committee on fund-raising and communications activities. Positions available are advertised below. Bridge does not work directly with people seeking asylum. Rather we rely on third parties to identify those in need who meet our eligibility criteria. If you are interested in direct contact with asylum seekers, please consider volunteering with the Asylum Seekers Centre, Jesuit Refugee Service or House of Welcome.

Volunteer positions available

Key responsibilities
  • Overall
    ● To be an office bearer, on the Management Committee of Bridge for Asylum Seekers Incorporated (Bridge), ensuring all regulatory and legal requirements of such an office are met.
    ● To attend Bridge for Asylum Seekers (Bridge) Committee meetings, the Annual General Meeting, and any Special Resolution meetings.
    ● To participate in the decision making of the Bridge Committee.
    ● To participate in the work and activities required to ensure the success of Bridge and its objectives, as agreed by the Bridge Committee and as directed by its constitution.
  • Specifically
    ● Attend at least nine out of twelve monthly meetings per annum. The meetings may be held at a physical venue (likely to be an Inner West location) or may be held on-line.
    ● Assist in the preparation of the Bridge meetings by reviewing and contributing to agendas and meeting minutes.
    ● Participate in the decision making of the Committee in all areas including but not limited to:
    o fund-raising requirements and efforts
    o allocation of funds to Bridge clients
    o communications to donors and supporters
    o Bridge governance, and
    o Bridge infrastructure support such as website, database, processes, etc
    ● Assist with grant applications and acquittals by reviewing those developed by other Committee members and being prepared to develop some grant applications and acquittals for review (and subsequent submission) by designated Committee members.
    ● Assist with other fund-raising efforts as agreed by the Committee
    ● Assist with various communication projects, such as newsletters and Annual Reports – as agreed by the Committee
Skills, experience and attributes
  • An understanding of and experience with the regulatory requirements for an incorporated association and charity, or the preparedness to develop that understanding by referring to/reading the regulations.
  • Knowledge of the responsibilities of an Office Holder in an incorporated association and charity, or the preparedness to develop that knowledge
  • Ability to write clear, concise and persuasive messaging – for grant and acquittal writing, and for donor/supporter communications
  • Well developed knowledge of the following tools/applications – Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, PDF readers/writers, email, DropBox, video conferencing tools,
  • Willingness to learn to use on-line grant application and acquittal forms
  • Use of computer
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision
Supervision and support
  • Member of the Bridge Management Committee
  • Experienced Bridge Management Committee members available for support
Job status
  • Position is voluntary
Benefits
  • Participation in an organisation with over 20 years’ experience of successfully providing asylum seekers in need with financial support
Job location
  • Position holder’s home
  • Monthly meetings held via Zoom or alternate online technology or occasionally, face to face.
Job hours
  • Up to one day a week
Note “Committee” in this document means both Management Committee and any Sub-Committee to which a member belongs.

Key responsibilities
  • In conjunction with Bridge committee, develop/re-develop social media strategy.
  • Creating content for Bridge’s social media platforms – Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
  • Monitoring social media platforms and moderating where relevant.
  • Report to Bridge committee monthly regarding social media activity undertaken.
  • After a probationary period in which both parties determine our mutual compatibility, joining the management committee.
Skills, experience and attributes
  • Well-developed interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills.
  • Comfortable working in an online environment and experienced in developing social media plans and producing content for social media platforms.
  • Understanding of asylum seeker issues in Australia to the willingness to acquire same.
  • Willingness to acquire knowledge of the workings of Bridge.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Availability for half a day a week and for management committee meetings one to two evenings per month.
  • Access to own computer, and internet service. Will need PDF reader and document tools, along with access to Gmail accounts and DropBox and the social media platforms relevant to Bridge’s social media strategy.
Supervision and support
  • Experienced Bridge committee members available for induction and direction.
Job status
  • Position is voluntary
Benefits
  • Participation in an organisation with over 20 years’ experience of successfully providing asylum seekers in need with financial support.
  • Making a substantial difference to the lives of marginalised members of Australian society.
Job location
  • Position holder’s home.
  • Monthly meetings currently held online.
Job hours
  • On average, four to five hours a week for most of the year.

Committee functioning
  • In addition to traditional role holders e.g. secretary, treasurer, the Bridge committee comprises approvers of financial transactions and general members.
  • Committee members have no face-to-face contact with people seeking asylum, apart from any that occurs in a private capacity and separately from the organisation.

Volunteer positions available

Key responsibilities

  • Overall
    ● To be an office bearer, on the Management Committee of Bridge for Asylum Seekers Incorporated (Bridge), ensuring all regulatory and legal requirements of such an office are met.
    ● To attend Bridge for Asylum Seekers (Bridge) Committee meetings, the Annual General Meeting, and any Special Resolution meetings.
    ● To participate in the decision making of the Bridge Committee.
    ● To participate in the work and activities required to ensure the success of Bridge and its objectives, as agreed by the Bridge Committee and as directed by its constitution.
  • Specifically
    ● Attend at least nine out of twelve monthly meetings per annum. The meetings may be held at a physical venue (likely to be an Inner West location) or may be held on-line.
    ● Assist in the preparation of the Bridge meetings by reviewing and contributing to agendas and meeting minutes.
    ● Participate in the decision making of the Committee in all areas including but not limited to:
    o fund-raising requirements and efforts
    o allocation of funds to Bridge clients
    o communications to donors and supporters
    o Bridge governance, and
    o Bridge infrastructure support such as website, database, processes, etc
    ● Assist with grant applications and acquittals by reviewing those developed by other Committee members and being prepared to develop some grant applications and acquittals for review (and subsequent submission) by designated Committee members.
    ● Assist with other fund-raising efforts as agreed by the Committee
    ● Assist with various communication projects, such as newsletters and Annual Reports – as agreed by the Committee

Skills, experience and attributes

  • An understanding of and experience with the regulatory requirements for an incorporated association and charity, or the preparedness to develop that understanding by referring to/reading the regulations.
  • Knowledge of the responsibilities of an Office Holder in an incorporated association and charity, or the preparedness to develop that knowledge
  • Ability to write clear, concise and persuasive messaging – for grant and acquittal writing, and for donor/supporter communications
  • Well developed knowledge of the following tools/applications – Word, Excel, Google Docs, Google Sheets, PDF readers/writers, email, DropBox, video conferencing tools,
  • Willingness to learn to use on-line grant application and acquittal forms
  • Use of computer
  • Ability to work with minimal supervision

Supervision and support

  • Member of the Bridge Management Committee
  • Experienced Bridge Management Committee members available for support

Job status

  • Position is voluntary

Benefits

  • Participation in an organisation with over 20 years’ experience of successfully providing asylum seekers in need with financial support

Job location

  • Position holder’s home
  • Monthly meetings held via Zoom or alternate online technology or occasionally, face to face.

Job hours

  • Up to one day a week

Note“Committee” in this document means both Management Committee and any Sub-Committee to which a member belongs.

Key responsibilities

  • In conjunction with Bridge committee, develop/re-develop social media strategy.
  • Creating content for Bridge’s social media platforms – Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.
  • Monitoring social media platforms and moderating where relevant.
  • Report to Bridge committee monthly regarding social media activity undertaken.
  • After a probationary period in which both parties determine our mutual compatibility, joining the management committee.

Skills, experience and attributes

  • Well-developed interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills.
  • Comfortable working in an online environment and experienced in developing social media plans and producing content for social media platforms.
  • Understanding of asylum seeker issues in Australia to the willingness to acquire same.
  • Willingness to acquire knowledge of the workings of Bridge.
  • Ability to work independently.
  • Availability for half a day a week and for management committee meetings one to two evenings per month.
  • Access to own computer, and internet service. Will need PDF reader and document tools, along with access to Gmail accounts and DropBox and the social media platforms relevant to Bridge’s social media strategy.

Supervision and support

  • Experienced Bridge committee members available for induction and direction.

Job status

  • Position is voluntary.

Benefits

  • Participation in an organisation with over 20 years’ experience of successfully providing asylum seekers in need with financial support.
  • Making a substantial difference to the lives of marginalised members of Australian society.

Job location

  • Position holder’s home
  • Monthly meetings currently held online.

Job hours

  • On average, four to five hours a week for most of the year.

Committee functioning

  • In addition to traditional role holders e.g. secretary, treasurer, the Bridge committee comprises approvers of financial transactions and general members.
  • Committee members have no face-to-face contact with people seeking asylum, apart from any that occurs in a private capacity and separately from the organisation.