Volunteer with EPIC

EPIC Walks Team Leaders are the heart of the EPIC community. They welcome and nurture parents in our group walks, co-facilitating with other EPIC Walks Team Leaders, to ensure all parents are heard, respected, and supported.

EPIC walks are fun! They provide an outlet for parents to share experiences, information, and friendship. Great ideas are born and many laughs are shared.

EPIC Walks Team Leaders will receive YMHFA training, Communication with Care training as well as constant support from the EPIC team. EPIC will support volunteers to grow their knowledge of the youth and family support sector and provide regular updates and access to sector training.

Your coffee is on EPIC! Volunteer travel expenses to and from EPIC walks will be reimbursed.

Volunteering with EPIC grows new friendships and provides greater insights into the youth and family mental health sector.

Key Responsibilities:

• Communicate with EPIC team regarding location and registrations

• Arrive at walk events early

• Welcome and introduce walkers with co facilitator

• Ensure the emotional safety of attendees

• Organise refreshments with co facilitator

• Collate data and expenses

• Post walk communication with EPIC staff to allow them to send the group a follow up email.

Skills, experience, and attributes:

• Lived experience of a young person in crisis

• Excellent communication and organisational skills

• Extensive, up to date knowledge of available supports and information

• Youth Mental Health First Aid or similar

• Compassion and ability to empathise

• Good listening skills, being alert to detail

• Resilience to the emotional demands of peer support

• Ability to collect data

Supervision and support:

Volunteers will work closely with and be supported by all EPIC staff.

Register your Expression of Interest here, now :)

EPIC Peer Support Volunteers provide peer support to parents caring for young people experiencing challenges.  Peer support provides a listening ear, a warm heart, and a safe, anonymous and nonjudgmental space to talk, ask, cry, laugh.  

EPIC Peer support workers have lived experience with caring for a young person in crisis and use their ability to put on their own oxygen as an inspiration for others.  They are not counsellors and do not give advice. They draw on their own experiences and that of the EPIC community to provide emotional support, knowledge, strategies and connection to further support.

Duties of an EPIC Peer Support person:

• Connecting with parents/carers on the phone or in person

• Being a compassionate listener

• Share resources and information relating to help for young people and parents

• Linking parents to the EPIC community 

• Sharing own journey if appropriate

• Documenting peer support connections

Essential Criteria 

• Lived experience of caring for a young person in crisis

• Extensive, up to date knowledge of available supports and information

• Self based, person centred approach in communication 

• Youth Mental Health First Aid or similar

• Compassion and ability to empathise

• Good listening skills, being alert to detail

• Ability to be honest and open relating to time, experience and realistic.

• Resilience to the emotional demands of peer support

• Ability to use google drive to record meetings

Supervision and support:

Volunteers will work closely with and be supported by all EPIC staff.

Register your Expression of Interest here, now :)

• Data Entry: Inputting and collating information into databases, spreadsheets, or other systems.

• Email Management: Responding to inquiries, organising email campaigns, and managing newsletters.

• Filing and Organisation: Maintaining digital files, ensuring they are easily accessible.
  

• Social Media Management: Creating and posting content, engaging with followers, and monitoring social media channels.

• Website Updates: Maintaining and updating website content, ensuring accuracy and consistency.

• Newsletter Creation: Codesigning and distributing newsletters, keeping stakeholders informed.

• Press Release Distribution: Writing and distributing press releases to media outlets.

• Email Marketing: Creating and sending email campaigns to promote events, seek donations, or share information. 

• Event Registration: Managing event registrations, collecting information, and sending confirmations.

• Event Logistics: Assisting with venue setup, catering, and other event-related tasks.

• Volunteer Coordination: Recruiting, training, and managing volunteers for events.

• Event Follow-up: Sending thank-you notes, collecting feedback, and analysing event results. 

• Donor Database Management: Maintaining and updating donor information, ensuring accuracy and organisation.

• Grant Writing Support: Assisting with research, writing, and submitting grant proposals.

• Fundraising Event Support: Assisting with fundraising events, such as galas, walks, or auctions.

• Sponsorship Outreach: Contacting potential sponsors and managing sponsorship relationships. 

• Budgeting and Financial Reporting: Assisting with budgeting, tracking expenses, and preparing financial reports.

• Translation: Translating documents and materials into different languages.