About Volunteers
EFA volunteers come from all walks of life, nations and cultures. They may be:
single or married
with or without children
retired or working.
Whilst the majority of our volunteers are mature-aged, EFA recognises the variety of roles people can play and now also recruits younger volunteers.
Volunteers undergo a thorough assessment, which includes a police check, a ‘working with children’ check, character reference checks, a medical check, a home safety check and a one-on-one interview.
EFA Regional Coordinators work closely with a child’s family to ensure that their matched volunteer has the necessary training and support to meet the individual needs of that child. Where specific skills are required to care for a child, EFA will endeavour to recruit a volunteer with those skills or will arrange for a volunteer to undertake specialized training.
When a match is made, a three-month “getting-to-know-you” trial period gives volunteers, children and families a chance to see how well the match fits. While some matches become ‘instant friends’, as with any friendship, it may take 12-months or so for the relationship to really blossom. Once it does, it can last a lifetime.
All EFA volunteers enjoy spending time with children and are committed to making a difference in the lives of children with special needs and their families.
