Student Placement with The St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc

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1 Student Placement with The St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc 2014 Wendy Rayner Business Projects Officer / Student Placements wrayner@svdpsa.org.au Ph: Fax: Updated: November 2013

2 Page 2 Introduction Working with staff and volunteers at the St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) can be a rewarding and enriching experience. Students take placement at St Vincent de Paul for a variety of reasons: To satisfy the Work Experience or PLP component of their studies To fulfil requirements of a Community Studies Program or Christian Service Placement As a component of an external award, such as the Duke Of Edinburgh Award To express their interest in volunteering to meet the needs of others Being part of a group of young people who have decided to put their values into action This booklet is designed to help students to make the first contact and to provide the information they need to make informed choices about how to spend time with the St Vincent de Paul Society. We hope you enjoy your placement. Wendy Rayner Business Projects Officer + Student Placements, Vinnies SA Minimum Length of Placement The minimum placement length is three days (or equivalent) plus the Induction Day (usually held 9am 1pm at Ozanam House, 202 Franklin St, Adelaide.) We do not grant placements for a few hours in total because it places an unhelpful burden on our staff and volunteers. Program Aims Service Education: The experience of 'working' within St Vincent de Paul services will provide meaning around volunteering for others, social justice and the good works of the Society. Safe, supportive work experience: Students will demonstrate the adoption of safe work practices. They will be supported as they gain experience working in an adult team and learning the value they offer to the community. Opportunities for future involvement with the Society: The placement program will raise awareness of other opportunities for young people to be involved in ongoing volunteering, work in community service and social justice action. Assist the Society in its good works: Priority will be given to young people who have demonstrated an interest in social justice, those at risk of being marginalised through limited opportunities for placement, and those from schools that have an ongoing partnership with the St Vincent de Paul Society.

3 Page 3 Key Learning Competencies for Volunteers 1. Contributing to a culture of care 2. Working with others Understand the ethos and mission of the Society, value its clients and customers, and develop a spirit of service. Treat everyone with dignity, maintain privacy and build respect. Demonstrate the ability to understand and follow instructions effectively and efficiently, and complete various tasks as requested by supervisors. Interact with others as part of a small team and on a one-to-one basis. 3. Communicating and sharing ideas and information 4. Safe work practices Communicate effectively with others, including staff and volunteers. Show initiative by expressing concerns or queries and be open to share new ideas. Demonstrate the ability to follow safe work practices as instructed and communicate information to the Society s Workplace Health and Safety Department that is relevant to their responsibilities. Induction Prior to attending the work placement, all students will undergo induction training, where they will be introduced to the mission and the wider good works of the Society. Induction Day will also provide a general introduction to workplace safety, communication and responsibilities. On-site induction within the store on the first day of placement will introduce students to the local workplace, their tasks and their responsibilities. Induction training will be held: as part of a group placement. For example, induction on a Monday followed by 3 days of placement. A viable group has a minimum of 6 and maximum of 15 students; or for individuals, on allocated school holiday dates. Induction Program: Introduction to the Society, its mission, ethos, core values, structure and history. The rights and responsibilities of volunteers and the organization. Introduction to Workplace Health and Safety and the responsibilities of volunteers. The Society s code of conduct. General personnel matters, including: equal opportunity, confidentiality, child-safe environments, professional support and presentation & service. A visit to the Vincentian Centre in Whitmore Square, Adelaide a front-line Special Work of the Society, assisting homeless men.

4 Where can I work? Page 4 Placements are granted according to the work available and the Society s capacity to offer a positive learning experience. St Vincent de Paul Society is committed to providing a quality placement that meets its goals of education, safety and engagement. Working in a Vinnies Retail Centre About Vinnies Retail Centres Vinnies Centres continue to provide a visual presence of the organisation in the community. The staff and volunteers who work in these stores are the public face of the Society. There are 34 Vinnies Centres throughout SA. Vinnies provides low cost clothing and household items in a dignified, friendly environment. Operational surplus made from these retail sites is used by St Vincent de Paul volunteers to help people seeking assistance. Vinnies Centres are constantly receiving quality donations from the public and these are sorted into family assistance, retail and recyclable items. Vinnies stores provide almost half the funds needed by the Society to support services provided to those in need. These programs include working with those who are hungry, homeless, struggling with financial difficulty, alone or dealing with a mental illness. What is the range of volunteer opportunities at a Vinnies Retail Centre? Every Centre is different but they have a few things in common. They all have a Centre Manager or Management Team, and a team of volunteers who assist in various ways. You may be asked to sort items such as clothing, jewellery, books, glassware there are so many wonderful things that people donate! You may be asked to clean some toys ready to sell in the shop or prepare items to be picked up for delivery elsewhere. You may help customers find a special gift, help to arrange a display or to serve at the cash register. The Person in Charge of the store will direct your work for the day, and may set you to work with another volunteer or by yourself. You will normally spend three days at a Vinnies Centre. In this time you will do a variety of tasks and become acquainted with the range of services they offer.

5 Page 5 Placement Locations = maximum number of student placements in each store On the consent form, you will be asked to select your top 3 preferences. This is because there are limited places available. If your local Vinnies is not listed here, it is because they do not currently have the capacity to take in students on placement. Brighton 365 Brighton Rd, Hove Elizabeth 8 Langford Drv Felixstow 499a Payneham Rd Hawthorn 21 Abbotshall Rd Holden Hill 614 North East Rd Kidman Park 308 Grange Rd Morphett Vale 190 Main South Rd Norwood 70 The Parade Para Vista Milne Rd (cnr Nelson Rd) Pt Adelaide 263 St Vincent St Prospect 92a Prospect Rd Royal Park 18 Tapleys Hill Rd Torrensville 186 Henley Beach Rd What are the placement hours? Hours vary depending on the venue. You will be advised on the hours when your placement is confirmed. Note that some hours extend beyond school times and volunteers are expected to stay for their allocated time. What do I wear? Closed footwear must be worn in the workplace. Heels should be avoided as there are some workplaces where there are a variety of floor surfaces. Dress needs to be semi-casual, modest and practical enough to be able to do a variety of tasks. The St Vincent de Paul Society is a Christian organisation formed within the Catholic Church. We are about upholding the dignity of each person and being people of hope. Therefore, clothing needs to contain no messages or images that will be offensive to coworkers, our clients or to the general public. What do I bring? Bring your own lunch and keep a water bottle handy. Although it is fine to have your mobile phone, this should never interrupt your work and certainly never be left on when you are in conversations with your co-workers or clients. In this way, we can be sure that we focus on the relationships we have with those around us.

6 Page 6 How do I apply? If you are interested in applying for placement as a volunteer with Vinnies, please do the following: Fill out the Placement Consent Form and Media Consent forms at the end of this book. Complete and fax back to Please be sure to complete the preferred dates. You will be advised of your induction day. o If you are part of a school s bulk placement, placements will be pre-arranged and the supervising teacher will be advised. If students are part of a school s bulk placement, these placements will be pre-arranged and the supervising teacher will be advised. If students are applying as an individual, their placement will be negotiated prior to the induction training. If you have special circumstances or need further information, please phone Wendy Rayner or wrayner@svdpsa.org.au What if this is my second or subsequent placement? If you have been placed with Vinnies at an earlier time, contact us to find out if you need to undertake induction or whether you are able to be placed directly. How to find Ozanam House - Our location: 202 Franklin Street, Adelaide

7 Page 7 Office Use Only Confirmed Location Induction Date Placement Dates Fax Return or Scan/ to Wendy Rayner Fax: wrayner@svdpsa.org.au Vinnies Placement Student Information & Consent Form Surname:... First names: School:.... Year level: Student address:.... (essential so we can send you info ):. Student/family phone number:.... School contact person:... Role:.. School contact .. School contact phone:... Has the school been notified of this placement? Yes No In the event of a problem relating to behaviour, the school contact person will be telephoned. Placement Dates: Please write your preferred dates and times here Today s date: /. /.... Emergency contacts (please provide 2 contacts) Name Relationship to student (Mother, Father, Aunt etc) Phone Number Health Information: Do you suffer from any physical ailments, conditions or allergies, or have any learning difficulties that are relevant to placement with the St Vincent de Paul Society? Yes No If Yes, please give details, including action that must be taken in an emergency):.. (add extra page if needed) Volunteers are required to attend a full induction day. This date will be either during school holiday times or negotiated as a group session on a school day. You will be advised of the I give permission for the above-named student to be involved in a placement and induction training with the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc., on the understanding that, in the event of illness or accident, the emergency contact shall be notified as soon as possible. If they cannot be contacted, I authorise the person in charge to obtain the services of a suitably qualified medical practitioner and to convey the student to a place suitable for treatment. I undertake to cover the costs of any unmet expenses incurred. I understand that I am responsible for transportation and any costs associated with the student travelling to and from the work placement. Parent / Guardian Signature Name:

8 Page 8 Student name:... Placement Dates:... Vinnies: Choosing your placement location Please select your top three preferences from these stores (write 1, 2 and 3). Sites have a limit of just one or two student placements. Placements cannot be guaranteed as placements are made through a variety of other programs. Placement Locations = maximum of one placement = maximum of two placements = maximum of three placements Tick if you are happy to be placed at any Vinnies Centre. Brighton 365 Brighton Rd, Hove Elizabeth 8 Langford Drv Felixstow 499a Payneham Rd Hawthorn 21 Abbotshall Rd Holden Hill 614 North East Rd Kidman Park 308 Grange Rd Morphett Vale 190 Main South Rd Norwood 70 The Parade Para Vista Milne Rd (cnr Nelson Rd) Port Adelaide 263 St Vincent St Prospect 92a Prospect Rd Royal Park 18 Tapleys Hill Rd Torrensville Shop 1/ 186 Henley Beach Rd

9 Page 9 Fax Return or Scan/ to Wendy Rayner Fax: wrayner@svdpsa.org.au Media Release (for those under 18 years of age) Sent By: Date: Sender s Fax Number or Media Release permission to use photos/videos etc for Society purposes. I give permission / do not give permission (strike out as appropriate) to the St Vincent de Paul Society (known as the Society ) to use the audio and/or visual image(s) and likeness(es), of taken as part of participation in student placement with the Society for the promotion or educational programs of the Society. I acknowledge that this audiovisual information may be used in printed materials, or online media (including the Society s websites) to further the work of the Society, and that it will be used in a way that shows discretion, upholds the dignity of the individual and enhances the Society s image. Signed Parent / Guardian Parent/Guardian Full Name: Name of student s school: Placement Date from to

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