Refugee support volunteer

Role description

Refugee support volunteers help families new to New Zealand to feel welcome, while learning about new cultures, meeting new people, and changing lives (including their own!). 

Refugee support volunteers work in teams. Teams are decided upon volunteer availability and matching people with complementary skills.

Volunteers receive ongoing support from New Zealand Red Cross settlement teams. 

If you want a rewarding experience where you can gain new skills, foster a positive and inclusive local community and meet new people, join us as a refugee support volunteer.

Your tasks 

You’ll support people as they navigate life in a new country. This may include:  

• Setting up a home for a family or individual.
• Assisting with grocery shopping and helping locate local markets and specialty shops.
• Making connections with schools, English classes, and other services as required.
• Helping the family navigate the city or town.
• Learning about another culture and sharing your own.  
• Being a friendly, welcoming presence.  

Location

Refugee Support Volunteers serve out in the community, based on the families' needs. Volunteer training and meetings are hosted at the local Red Cross Service Centre.

Volunteer requirements and training 

All volunteers receive training to help them feel confident and prepared in the role. Training covers the refugee journey, intercultural practice, the role of the volunteer and more. Training is held throughout the year. Details about upcoming training session times are listed at the top of this page when filtered by location.

You’ll need to be familiar with your local area, open to working cross-culturally, be resourceful and good at taking initiative.

You’ll need to be flexible in this role as there are not set times when volunteering takes place. We ask volunteers to provide about four hours a week of support, especially in the first few weeks of support. Your time is spread out during the week. To apply for this role, you will need to commit to volunteer for a minimum of three months. After your training is complete, you will receive more information about when your placement with a family will begin.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW)

We all have a responsibility for our own and others’ Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) when undertaking activities on behalf of Red Cross. Therefore, it is important you: 

• Take reasonable care of your own health and safety, do not adversely affect the HSW of others.
• Complete health, safety and wellbeing induction, training, programmes and activities – as directed.
• Follow all reasonable instructions given to you relating to HSW.
• Cooperate and comply with New Zealand Red Cross policies, standards and procedures related to health, safety, and wellbeing.
• Use personal protective equipment (PPE) if required, to undertake any work activity.
• If you identify a hazard and/or you are involved in an incident or near miss, report this straight away to your people leader.
• Know what to do in an emergency – for example, how to escape during a fire or what to do if an earthquake occurs.
• You must tell someone in charge if you have any health and safety concerns or worried about someone else’s health and safety.