The Online Care Team (mostly volunteer personnel) provide 24 hour support for our messageboard, chat and email and help to make depressioNet a safe and caring place for all. The OCT is based in our office at Richmond, Victoria. The main duties of the volunteer OCT members are:Make all visitors welcome and feel comfortable.
Ensure that depressioNet is a safe and caring place for all.
Moderate the chat rooms and message boards
Help people who are at high risk of suicide or self harm to access emergency services.
Work together as a team to ensure people find the information, help and support they need.
Responding to visitor emails.
Answer questions, help and support people to get the maximum benefit from depressioNet.
Volunteering for the OCT provides you with the opportunity to gain a new type of experience in a caring and understanding role. There are many other benefits to being a part of such a unique team.
The personal rewards for our volunteer team are great and come in there hundreds, however there are also times when what we do isn't always appreciated. Sometimes it might feel like you are in a combat zone, being abused and insulted for just trying to do the right thing. It comes and goes and is part of the territory.
Misunderstandings happen all the time, but the thanks and appreciation that you will also receive rarely happens in real life.
No formal qualifications are required to become a volunteer OCT member but the person we are looking for must have basic computer skills, an understanding of depression and an ability to communicate with visitors via email, chatroom and message board. Part of the training requirements is the Livingworks 2 day ASIST suicide intervention workshop an intensive course costing approximately $180.
The OCT shifts are usually 4 hours in duration and allocated depending on your availability. Some volunteer OCT members do 2-3 shifts per week while others do one shift .. it all depends on you and shift availability.
This volunteer job is not for everyone but if you feel that this job suits you and will also be a benefit to you then please fill in the application form in PDF or RTF and email it to Admin@depressionet.com.au.
