Two thousand four hundred and eighty. That’s the number of calls Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) received on our helpline in 2014.
 
At WAO, we conduct a broad range of tasks for women in crisis from domestic violence: face-to-face and telephone-based advice and assistance, case management, advocating for access to justice and health services for victim-survivors, and ensuring the smooth running of our shelters.
 
We are looking for para-counselors.
 
In responding quickly to women in crisis, it is crucial that we always have trained people to answer our helpline. The needs are progressively increasing beyond our capacity and we need your help. We want to train and certify para-counselors to answer the WAO Helpline.
 
As a para-counselor for the WAO Helpline, you will be trained on:
  1. Empathetic listening skills
     
  2. Risk and needs assessment
     
  3. Knowledge on Violence Against Women (VAW)
You will benefit from 30 hours of training with WAO professional staff, which includes skill and knowledge-based workshops and practicums. Sessions are facilitated and supervised by staff who have years of on the ground experience.
 
The training sessions will be held on alternate Saturdays, beginning March 21, 2015. This covers:
  1. Two full Saturdays (6 hours) on Mar 21 and Apr 4.
     
  2. Four half-Saturdays (3 hours - you may choose the AM or PM slot) on April 18, May 2, May 16, or May 30.
     
  3. Practicum (6 hours).
Para-counselors must commit to:
  • Three-hour slot per week
     
  • On-going training sessions and refresher courses
If you have been curious about volunteering with WAO and you are keen on assisting women in crisis, you can start with our WAO Helpline training.

We will also be conducting a pre-training briefing on March 7 for interested volunteers.
 
Join Team WAO. Throughout February, we are looking for people who want to be para-counselors. Apply by 28 February 2015 and send your application to womensaidorg@gmail.com.

Questions? Contact us at: womensaidorg@gmail.com or call at 03-7957 0636/5636