Volunteer Intern Program
The Eating Disorders Foundation is committed to providing a professional service, which is why we offer a training programme for volunteers wanting to take a more active and specialised role in assisting with our invaluable work.
This program runs over six months, where interns attend a training workshop one evening per month and complete a minimum of six volunteer hours per month (two, three hour shifts at the office or equivalent out of business hours).
Once the programme has been completed, interns may then move into a facilitating role within EDF.
Activities that can be completed as are facilitator include:
- Telephone counselling
- Facilitating a support group
- Media liaison
- Chat line moderating
- Participating in our hospital support programme
- Fundraising
- Professional education
- Writing for the EDF newsletter
- Administrative duties such as data entry, mail outs etc.
The evening training workshops are held at the EDF office after buisness hours. During these workshops interns are educated by a qualified psychologist in basic counselling skills, eating disorders and the running of the EDF office. Group discussion, role-plays, a comprehensive training manual and the required volunteer participation, ensures that interns have sufficient practical experience and the knowledge to move into a facilitating role.
This programme provides a wonderful opportunity for people who have had experience with eating disorders - or people with an interest in the area who just want to help - to be formally educated, providing them with the skills and knowledge required to support people who are living with eating disorders.
We rely on the support from our volunteers and greatly appreciate all the fabulous work they do for the EDF. Therefore we urge you, if you feel that you have something to offer, please contact EDF on (02) 9412 4499 or email us for more information regarding the intern programme.