Steve

Having worked as a counselor for over twenty years, Steve has a passion for working with people who don’t have much power in our society. After becoming increasingly disenfranchised with how the Australian asylum seeker system was working, he decided to volunteer at the ASRC. Steve has been volunteering for over 12 months, and spends around half a day every Thursday providing professional counseling services for asylum seekers.

“When you’re dealing with people who are quite stressed because of their experience in their country of origin, their journey to Australia and then the fear that they may be sent back to their country of origin can be quite stressful,” says Steve.

He mentions that it is important to learn how to put yourself into you role at the ASRC, but also maintain some professional distance in order to offer real help.

“You’ve got to have a capacity to be passionate about what you’re doing and be able to really jump in and get your hands dirty, but also step back from it. But if you become too clinical your work suffers, so you need that balance between stepping in and stepping back.”

The ASRC is reliant on volunteers providing a strong and enthusiastic commitment to the centre. It is a position that requires organisational skills and an eagerness to help those less fortunate.

“I work with a mix of volunteers and paid stuff,” says Steve, “and the level of commitment here is extraordinarily high, so you can have some good fun.”

“You have to be organised. Because I’m volunteering my time rather than being paid to do it, it has a different flavour to what I do here but it’s still very important”. Also, “if you commit to half a day, assume that it’s going to be longer at times.”

Steve came to the ASRC as a qualified and experienced professional and is eager to highlight the importance of more people doing the same. The ASRC provides free legal, health, counseling and employment consultations, which requires a large amount of time and commitment from skilled professionals in these fields.

“People who have got professional qualifications and a passion should be at the forefront of wanting to get in here and provide the service,” says Steve. “We should be a passionate society. So if you’ve got qualifications and a passion then I think you should be beating the door down to get in.”

The asylum seekers require this level of commitment and service to have the best chance of ensuring a secure future. A point that Steve is keen to emphasise.

“You don’t give a second rate service to people who come to Australia. I think that you should be giving them the best service that we’ve got in this society and country.”

Not only will this benefit the large number of asylum seekers who really need these services, but it is also an opportunity to test and challenge yourself and your professional skills.

“You bring your skills in and you share. You get as much back as you share,” says Steve. “In professional terms I’ve learned a hell of a lot, my skills have been challenged. I think what you put in; you get a whole lot more back.”