VOLUNTEERS
The Buddhist Council is operated by volunteers. For example,
- experienced professionals who wish to contribute something back into the community,
- students who wish to gain work experience and useful office skills
- people who can serve as teachers of Buddhism in schools
- people who serve as chaplains in prisons and hospitals
- individuals who wish to assist the Buddhist community
- Buddhists who give their time to support the Buddha’s teachings
What you get in return is a mixture of “spiritual currency” and a lot of enjoyment and satisfaction from working with other like-minded people. If you would like to explore the various volunteer roles we have available, please contact us by phone, mail or email. We welcome your enquiry.
The time required ranges from half a day per month, up to a few days per month, depending on your availability and what you would like to do. There are opportunities within and outside of our office.
DHARMA SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR OFFICE
Book Coordinators/Distributors
Importance: This activity responds to requests for free Dharma publications. These requests come from member organisations needing to give books to their devotees and supporters. Requests also come from members of the general public seeking to understand more about Buddhism.
Description: Database management, re-ordering books, coordinating shipments, managing the list of requests, packing books for mailing, and taking parcels to post office.
Media and Communications Assistants
Importance: This activity assists the President in representing the Buddhist community in
Description: Preparing media releases, coordinating media liaison and coordinating publicity.
Events Coordinators
Importance: This activity supports any public events sponsored or organised by BCNSW.
Description: Planning and managing events, coordinating publicity.
Events Assistant
Importance: Public events are an important opportunity for members of the general public to find out what Buddhism is about and the values that Buddhists espouse. This activity supports the Public Events Coordinator in planning and managing events, and coordinating publicity.
Description: Assisting the Public Events Coordinator, and assisting at BCNSW public events, e.g. Vesak celebrations, Buddhism Expo, seminars and conferences. Requires energy and commitment.
Administrative Assistants
Importance: This activity supports the general running of the BCNSW office at Crows Nest. This is a key activity which keeps the BCNSW functioning. Also, this activity responds to telephone and email enquiries, as well as enquiries at the front desk of the BCNSW office. All types of questions are possible, so this task needs to be approached in a flexible and empathetic manner. Multi-lingual volunteers are especially valued.
Description: General administrative duties, including filing, work with MS-Word and MS-Excel, responding to email, face-to-face and inbound telephone enquiries.
Accounts Assistant
Importance: This activity ensures that the finances of BCNSW are well managed, that debts are paid on time and that donations and other funds received are banked and properly recorded. This activity also manages the BCNSW budget through its accounting system.
Description: MYOB updates, bank reconciliation, preparing payments.
Chaplaincy Coordinators
Importance: This activity assists in the governance and administration of chaplaincy activity in hospitals and prisons. Where chaplaincy activity is supported by subsidies, this activity needs to be invoiced to the funding source. Chaplains need to be supported in their skill development and any workplace issues.
Description: Liaising with and supporting chaplains, coordinating documentation, updating databases, and performance management.
Education (SRE) Coordinators
Importance: This activity supports volunteers who provide Special Religious Education (SRE) in schools (i.e. scripture classes). New volunteer teachers need to be recruited and their questions answered. Teachers can do an induction course at the start of their service and once each year, an in-service workshop is conducted to share knowledge and skills.
Description: Responding to schools requiring volunteer teachers, answering enquiries and responding to problems for new teachers, supporting teachers, organising in-service workshops, providing textbooks, and updating databases.
Visa Support
Importance: This activity supports member organisations wishing to sponsor Sangha coming to
Description: Liaising with Immigration Department, advising member organisations and preparing letters of support.
Website Support
Importance: This activity supports the BCNSW website, which is a primary form of communication with member organisations and the general public. The website helps to raise awareness of BCNSW activities and helps to grow the support base and overall activity provided by BCNSW to schools, hospitals, member organisations, etc.
Description: Website maintenance, website design.
DHARMA SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OUR OFFICE
Special Religious Education (SRE) Teacher
Importance: SRE teachers provide young people with basic knowledge of Buddhism and Buddhist values.Visiting a primary or a secondary public school on a weekly basis to teach basic Buddhism. Requires a willingness to conduct a class on weekly basis. Advanced knowledge not required.
Hospital Chaplain
Importance: Hospital chaplains provide spiritual support and pastoral care to Buddhist patients and their families in hospitals.
Description: Providing pastoral care to Buddhist patients in hospitals half a day a week or fortnight. Requires a willingness to do a 40-hour introductory course on Pastoral Care, and a commitment to serving those in need.
Prison Chaplain
Importance: Prison chaplains provide spiritual support and pastoral care to prison inmates who often need
Description: Providing pastoral care to Buddhist inmates in prisons half a day a week or fortnight. Requires a willingness to do a 40-hour introductory course on Pastoral Care, and a commitment to serving those in need.