Thank you for your interest in registering as a volunteer with Wesley Mission Queensland's Group61 program.  

Group61 is a volunteer mental health befriending program supporting individuals 18+ living independently in the community who have a lived experience of mental illness / health issue, who are also experiencing social isolation and / or loneliness. Group61Companions provides volunteer companionship program for people aged 55 years and over who are experiencing social isolation and  / or loneliness. Through regular meetings, Group61 builds friendships between volunteers and Friends and supports social inclusion and connection.

The Group61 program:
  • Enhances quality of life through friendship
  • Builds and strengthens life skills and self-confidence
  • Builds and strengthens social community connections
  • Raises awareness of the needs of people with mental health issues and older isolated persons in the community.
We currently have the following positions available across South-East Queensland and volunteers are matched to a location the is convenient to them:
  • Area Coordinators who recruit and support our team of Befrienders, Companions, and Visitors.
  • Befrienders who provide friendship to people with mental health issues to rebuild social connections within their community.
  • Companions who build social friendships in the community with people over 50 years who are experiencing social isolation. 
  • Community Visitors who spend one hour a week or fortnight visiting older persons in their home who may be socially isolated or lonely - whether for social or cultural reasons or due to disability.
These roles are suitable for people who are seeking a long term volunteering commitment from six to twelve months.

As part of our team you will find that Group61 is a welcoming and rewarding place to volunteer where you will meet many wonderful people and learn great new skills that may assist you both personally and professionally. There are lots of other benefits to volunteering with us as well, such as:
  • Supply and pay for any security checks required for the position
  • Access to online and face-to-face wellness advisors
  • Great education opportunities
  • Free Flu Vaccinations
  • Exclusive shopping discounts 
  • Invitations to social events
  • Being part of a team who really are making a difference in the lives of lonely and isolated people living in your local community.
To learn more about Group61 and Wesley Mission Queensland please visit our website.
What Happens Next?

Before you consider becoming a Group61 Area Coordinator, Befriender, Community Visitor, or Companion we ask that you read the: Once you have read these documents and you are confident you would like to become a Group61 volunteer, please complete this quick online registration.

When Group61 receives your registration form, they will be in contact with you to discuss the process further.

In the registration, you will be required to outline your details, availability, skills, and interests. This will help Group61 find a suitable role for you.  

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Group61 on group61 @wmq.org.au.

We look forward to hearing from you!
Other Information:
  • Please visit Wesley Mission Queensland's website to see our full privacy and information collection statement.
  • Wesley Mission Queensland holds the right to decline any volunteer registrations or expressions of interest they deem unsuitable without notice.
  • You can contact the Group61 team at any time if you have questions about your registration on group61@wmq.org.au.
Let's start …

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1. What volunteer role or roles are you interested in?
Please click on the link to view the role description.  All roles will be discussed in-depth during the Group61 information session or interview.

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2. Please provide your personal details:

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3. Your Date of Birth?

Date

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4. Please provide an emergency contact person for when you are volunteering:

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5. Please provide a referee contact person (a person known to you either professionally or personally for over 12 months)

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6. Do you have any special needs, time availability concerns, health issues, etc that you feel may affect your volunteer work or that we should know of in case of an emergency?

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7. Are you applying to volunteer with us as part of a Centrelink or job network commitment?

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8. Are you applying to volunteer with us as part of a student placement?

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9. Do you have any of the following security checks?
Please note to be current these checks must have at least three months until expiry and you must be able to provide a copy of the check.  If you do not have one of these checks, Wesley Mission Queensland will provide and pay for one for you.

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10. What days and time of the day are you available to visit your Friend?
You can choose as many as you wish, but ensure you will be available in this time frame for around a one-hour duration.

  Morning Afternoon Evening
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday

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11. Please choose any skills or interests you may have to help us to match you with a Friend or role:
If you are interested in an Area Coordinator role, please ensure you tick 'Area Coordinator'.

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12. Do you have any experience interacting with people with special needs including older people, people with a disability, or people with mental health issues?

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13. Are you from a culturally and linguistically diverse background or feel you can relate to a Friend from a culturally and linguistically diverse background?  
This also includes people from Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

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14. Do you have any other skills, qualification, interests etc that you would like to tell us about?

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15. Do you give permission for Wesley Mission Queensland to take photographs of you while volunteering, and to publish your name and photograph in connection with any activities you are involved in with our organisation?

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16. Group61 run social events throughout the year, this is an excellent opportunity for you, our Friends and members of Wesley Mission Queensland to meet and mix with a wider circle of people. Would you be interested in notified and attending one or more of these events?  Attendance is optional.

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17. If recruited as a Wesley Mission Queensland Community Visitor I agree to volunteer within the terms and guidelines as outlined in the below declaration:

I understand that if I become a  volunteer with Wesley Mission Queensland that I will be expected to:   
  • Provide an ongoing commitment and reliability in the role.
  • Interact positively with Friends, staff, volunteers, families and the general public.   
  • Understand and respect confidentiality, maintain professional boundaries. 
  • Volunteer within the guidelines of Wesley Mission Queensland's Code of Conduct. 
  • Undertake any education or competencies required for the position. 
  • Work within the philosophies, policies, procedures, and guidelines of Wesley Mission Queensland.   
  • Supply or complete the required security checks (checks are provided and paid for by Wesley Mission Queensland).   
I have read, understood and are willing to follow the guidelines within the:

By pressing "SUBMIT" I declare I understand the conditions outlined in this registration 
and that the information I have provided is correct.

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