We support

There are many ways of helping people, be they in your own community in Melbourne, or on the other side of the world.
Here are some organisations whose work is supported by the SAIL Program.

This is a useful guide for those who are seeking volunteer work but who can't, for whatever reason, attend SAIL, or who want a volunteer experience focused on something slightly different.

I want to help those refugees who are in immigration detention around Australia

Spare Lawyers for Refugees Online Advocacy Centre
The Spare Lawyers for Refugees Online Advocacy Centre is a resource centre of materials relating to refugees and asylum seekers in Australia. For those seeking voluntary work to support those in immigration detention, this website provides numerous avenues for meaniningful assistance and applications can be made online.


The SAIL locations are not convinient for me, where else can I volunteer?

Wednesday Night Tutoring is a program that provides academic assistance to children, mainly from East Timor, Ethiopia, Iran and Vietnam. It runs during the school term on each Wednesday night between 7:30pm and 9:00pm at the Richmond housing commissions flats, in the homes of recently arrived refugees and migrants. The Wednesday Night Tutoring Service is associated with Society of St Vincent de Paul.

Join the team at the Wednesday Night Tutoring Service in Richmond here.

The Monash Student Association English Teaching for Refugees Program
This is an excellent program run through Monash University for Afghani refugees, providing them with free English classes and general support. All volunteers must be students at Monash University. Volunteers generally tutor 'survival English' to a small group of refugees one night per week. The program has a resource library which is available to use at the Monash Student Association.

where: AMES Noble Park, Frank St. Near Noble Park Train Station

when: Monday & Wednesday 6 - 8pm

who: Students are Afghani refugees on temporary protection visa's who are unable to access the free Australian Government English tutoring program

no. students: about 30-40 per night
no. tutors: 20 per night

Training and support offered to volunteers - 6 weeks training before tutuoring, regular updates after that.

Contact: Eli Grieg
Eli.Grieg@adm.monash.edu.au
Ph:9905 4156
Fax:9905 4186
Mob: 0402 937 208


I can't do Saturdays but would love to help recent arrivals

Western Young People's Independant Network
The Western Young People's Independent Network (WYPIN) provides services to young people living in the inner west including a homework support program, internet access and advocacy on issues such as racism and employment. The Sudanese community are ongoing beneficiaries of the work of the WYPIN volunteer team.

I want to volunteer to help Horn of Africans with sport

Onside soccer
Onside Soccer is a social and sporting program for culturally isolated and socially disadvantaged youth focusing on culturally and linguistically diverse youth from new arrival and refugee communities. Many Sudanese have been involved in this program, which was partly set up to try and decrease the number of Horn of Africa kids who are ending up in the juvenile justice system. Overseen by former Deputy Chief Magistrate Brian Barrow, Onside Soccer is a great way to help the emerging communities actively. Onside Soccer requires sports assistants and administrators.

I want to help the refugee cause in Australia by being creative

Actors For Refugees
Australian actors Alice Garner and Kate Atkinson set up Actors for
Refugees, in order to give Australian performing artists an outlet to voice their frustrations and anger over the federal government’s treatment of refugees, and in the hope of increasing public awareness. AFR has many high-profile artists among its membership and has hosted, created and been involved in many very successful events since it’s inception. Actors and administrators are encouraged to make direct contact if they are interested in helping out.

I'm a Melbourne University student and want credit for my volunteer work

SALP
The Student Ambassador Leadership Program is run from Melbourne University. It gives students the opportunity to enhance their experience at University by getting involved in community service and leadership seminars and workshops.
Several SAIL tutors are Student Ambassadors.

I know that I can't donate bicycles to SAIL Second Hand days, where can I send them?

Wheels of 4tune
The Wheels of 4tune program aims to promote third world development from a grass roots level. One of the main problems with cash donations is that funds become lost as they are channelled through to the people in need. The Wheels of 4tune project aims to avoid this problem by donating bicycles to people without access to transportation. A bike that’s worth nothing in the shed actually gains value when it used for personal development in the third world.


We generally support the work of the following organisations.

MADMAD
The Melbourne Apathy Destroyers Making A Difference Group organise youth fundraising events in Melbourne, Australia. Their hard work has resulted in a numerous benefit gigs with funds raised going to Sudanese refugees in Africa. If you are looking for an opportunity to assist with fundraising for Sudan in Australia please contact them through the contact details on their website.

God's Golden Acre
This is a children’s home in Kwa Zulu-Natal, South Africa, run for
children who are orphaned or unable to live at home due to AIDS,
violence and poverty. SAIL Co-ordinator Anna Grace Hopkins volunteered at GGA in 2003.

CMYI
The Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues (CMYI) is a statewide community-based organisation that aims to strengthen and build innovative partnerships between young people, support services and the community to enhance life opportunities for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds.


Mercy Refugee Service
The Sisters of Mercy do amazing work with refugees in New South Wales and overseas. We were honoured to be asked to speak about SAIL at their National Conference last year.

Refugee & Immigration Legal Centre
The Refugee & Immigration Legal Centre (RILC) is a community legal centre specialising in all aspects of refugee and immigration law, policy and practice.

The OakTree Foundation
Raises money to implement sustainable education projects in southern Africa. It is a new foundation that is predominantly made up of young people, in particular students, who work within their communities in Australia to fundraise for its overseas projects