A call for volunteers

Sydney
25 May 2003

‘Good morning ... welcome to Crossroads’

Pockets of ‘very deep poverty’ - Tim Fischer launches Vinnies Winter Appeal

Time, place right for launch, to be sure, to be sure

Exploring faith at Branches

Young need education on media: Br Kelvin

‘Advocate for poor’

Pope honours Sir William, Lady Deane

Sculpture tribute to nuns

Inside the Inquisition archives

Edmund Rice superannuation forum

Bishops focus on asylum seekers, racism

Leagues club buys dignity for destitute

Catholic University produces second Bible aid in Chinese

Caritas calling: Uganda needs help

Spirituality and suicide

Casimir, De La Salle quick to respond

Yell! For fresh tunes

Editorial: Without fear or favour

Letters: Depth of understanding

Conversation: Molly Griffiths - retiree and Compeer volunteer - Sunday outings, music ... that’s what friends are for

A call for volunteers

What the single life can teach us

Serra clubs ‘foster spiritual growth’

Obituary: Trangie’s priest was ordained ‘to serve all God’s people’

Celebrating 200 years of Mass appeal

The Rosary - ‘a treasure to be rediscovered’

Scalabrinians choose new leaders

Media studies ‘can play a major role’

A call for volunteers

“Compeer” means a companion who is a peer or equal - a friend not a counsellor.

The aim of Compeer is to improve the quality of life and self-esteem of their clients through social inclusion, enjoyable activities and mutual trust.

Volunteers spend around four hours per month in social activities with their matched friend for at least a year. It also offers telephone support through the Compeer Calling Service.

Compeer staff recruit, interview, screen and train volunteers in agency policies and procedures, program requirements and goals.

The volunteers are also taught about various mental health issues and illnesses.

Each Compeer friendship is monitored and supported by staff through monthly volunteer reports and meetings.

It is the responsibility of the referring health professional to meet in person with the potential volunteer in order to determine if the volunteer is appropriate for the client.

The health professional must also be willing to be available to the volunteer by phone if concerns or questions arise at any time during the match.

The Sydney-based Compeer program has 111 volunteers, but there are 56 people with mental illness still waiting for someone like Molly to come along.

NSW alone is home to more than 150,000 people who suffer from disabling illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression, bi-polar disorder or anxiety.

Only a few of these are in hospital; most are coping in the community.

Volunteers are welcome.

For more information call Compeer on (02) 9560 8666.