About Us
Roses in the Ocean is a national not for profit organisation founded on and operating through the lens of lived experience of suicide; we exist to save lives and to reduce emotional distress and pain. We do this through our non-clinical peer-led services, sector advocacy and capacity building programs. Everyone who works within Roses in the Ocean has a lived experience of suicide which is defined as having experienced suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt, supported a loved one through suicidal crisis, or been bereaved by suicide.
About the Program
When a person is experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviour, it can be a very worrying time for their family, carers and supporters. Family, carers and supporters who are supporting somebody experiencing suicidal thoughts and/or behaviour benefit from speaking with people who have had a similar experience.
The Peer CARE Companion Warmlinehas been created by Roses in the Ocean to provide a safe place for people with a lived experience of suicide to connect with others with a similar lived experience of suicide. The service provides people with an opportunity to connect, be heard, and for their distress to be compassionately explored and understood by another person through the mutual understanding that comes with meaningful shared experience.
About the role
We’re searching for Victorian-based family members, carers and supporters of someone with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviour to volunteer on our suicide prevention call-back service, the Peer CARE Companion Warmline.
Staffed by trained volunteers (Peer CARE Companions) from a range of backgrounds, life experiences and identities, the Warmline service provides vital support for those who need it, by connecting the caller with a volunteer that has similar lived experience. As a volunteer with lived experience of supporting someone with suicidal thoughts or behaviour, you will be connected with callers to the Warmline who are living a similar experience.
About You
To be eligible to apply for this Volunteer Peer Care Companion role, you will:
* Be based in Victoria,
* Have a personal lived experience of supporting someone with suicidal thoughts and/or behaviour,
* Have a current Police check and a Working with Children Check or be willing to obtain them.
To thrive in this role, you will:
* Be comfortable talking about suicide and sitting with another person’s distress,
* Be able to listen deeply and let people talk about their experiences,
* Value giving back to others that have similar lived experience to you.
You do not need to have done a similar role or had any professional training to do this role. Your lived experience and readiness to contribute are what we are looking for! All training and upskilling will be provided to volunteers.
What we offer
If you become a Volunteer Peer CARE Companion, we will provide you with:
* Free Volunteer Peer CARE Companion training, including e-learning modules and an interactive online workshop
* Free TouchPoints suicide support training workshop training
* Ongoing support with debriefing and regular group co-reflection sessions and the opportunity to be part of ourVolunteer Community Network,
* Professional development opportunities through a Community of Practice
* Access to opportunities within the broader suicide prevention space, and,
* Genuine flexibility in how and when you volunteer – you pick the days and times you volunteer!
Volunteers will work from home with policy and procedures in place to ensure privacy and confidentiality whilst creating an environment to support conversation.
Express your interest now!
If you are keen to express your interest as a Victorian Carer Warmline volunteer, please click this link to be taken to Volaby where you will be asked to create a profile and book a readiness call with one of our team.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this volunteer opportunity, or want to find out more before applying, please contact the Victorian Carer Peer CARE Companion Coordinator by emailing is.hay@rosesintheocean.com.au or calling 1300 411 461 extension 223.
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