Sample faq post This is summary text, it is best kept to under 100 characters and should include keywords for SEO. Expand This is a sample post. Please do not overwrite with your own content. This post will be deleted before your site goes live. You can use the WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) editor to add and style your content. Below are some ways in which you might do this. Instructions can be found in the Raising IT Knowledge Base. Heading 1 Heading 2 Heading 3 Heading 4 A button This is a blockquote - great for drawing attention to a particular element. This paragraph shows an image with text wrapped around it. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Maecenas sed diam eget risus varius blandit sit amet non magna. Duis mollis, est non commodo luctus, nisi erat porttitor ligula, eget lacinia odio sem nec elit. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper. Nullam id dolor id nibh ultricies vehicula ut id elit. Praesent commodo cursus magna, vel scelerisque nisl consectetur et. Nulla vitae elit libero, a pharetra augue. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Etiam porta sem malesuada magna mollis euismod. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Fusce dapibus, tellus ac cursus commodo, tortor mauris condimentum nibh, ut fermentum massa justo sit amet risus. Vivamus sagittis lacus vel augue laoreet rutrum faucibus dolor auctor. Youtube and Vimeo videos can be embedded into your posts: Lists This is a list item This is a list item This is a list item This is a numbered list item This is a numbered list item This is a numbered list item Tables Tables should be used strictly for data. Tables should not be used for images as they won't display correctly on a smaller screen. Header Header Header Content 1 a Content 2 b Content 3 c Content 4 d Content 5 e Content 6 f Donation amounts Below is a donation amounts widget. Please select a donation amount (required) $52 $52 can help run a weekly support group for parents $106 $106 can help cover the costs of our 24/7 support line for one day $295 $295 can help fund training for health professionals in best-practice bereavement support Other Set up a regular donationDonate
Why does Sands rely on the support of volunteers? Expand Sands has always been a volunteer-led organisation, built upon the passion and commitment bereaved parents share to make a difference We are a not for profit organisation that relies on the generosity of our community to support our important work in ensuring no bereaved parent feels alone after the death of a baby. Sands would not exist without the skills, knowledge, wisdom and experience that our volunteers bring to our organisation.
How will I be supported whilst volunteering with Sands Expand Our national volunteering team is dedicated to supporting our volunteers to ensure that you have a positive, rewarding and worthwhile volunteering experience. There is always someone experienced available for you to ask advice from, to debrief with, and to learn from. As a volunteer, you are the lifeblood of Sands and we are committed to keeping you informed and up-to-date through the provision of regular newsletters and opportunities to connect with staff and fellow volunteers across Australia
Will I receive any training? Expand All volunteers going into parent supporter roles in our services undertake Sands national bereavement support training, delivered in person at locations across Australia or online where attendance at a Sands office is not possible. Our training is conducted by our National Manager of Services and is designed to introduce you to various theories and experiences of grief, introduce Sands’ unique peer-to-peer model of support and to prepare you for what to expect when offering support to vulnerable people. Volunteers have the opportunity to refresh their training at various intervals throughout their period of service at Sands. In other volunteer positions training is provided in a variety of ways. Training manuals, newsletters, online video's and online webinars are some of the ways we assist our volunteers to acquire the knowledge to feel comfortable in their volunteering roles.
Will I need to be interviewed? Expand After you submit an expression of interest, our volunteer recruitment process consists of a preliminary phone interview with our National Manager of Services, or our Community Engagement team. Some roles do require a reference check and police check, and depending on the type of role you are applying for, a short period of in-person or online training.
What are the benefits to volunteering with Sands Expand Volunteering with Sands connects you to a community of people with shared experience, helping combat the isolation of pregnancy and infant loss while enabling you to help others whose grief journeys are often just beginning. Many of our volunteers have made valuable friendships through connections made at Sands training days and events. Our volunteer parent supporters tell us that helping other bereaved parents gives them a meaningful way to remember their baby.
Will I need a background check? Expand Some volunteer roles, particularly those where volunteers are interacting with vulnerable people (e.g. on our support services) will require a national police check. Any volunteers working with children will also require a relevant Working with Children Check. You will be advised during recruitment if a check is required.
I work full time – can I volunteer? Expand Yes, there are many volunteer opportunities that do not require you to be available during “normal” office hours. One of the best things about volunteering with Sands is that it can be done at a time that best fits with your lifestyle. As well as having ongoing opportunities, we also offer volunteering for one-off occasions.
Do I need experience or qualifications? Expand For our direct support roles there is no magic formula or qualification required – we're rather looking for a unique set of qualities (empathy, compassion) combined with lived experience of pregnancy loss to ensure the families reaching out to Sands are always able to talk to someone who understands what they are going through. Many Sands volunteers have interests or backgrounds in related areas – counselling, midwifery etc. but this is by no means a pre-requisite for the role. For more information about the specific requirements of each volunteer role see our volunteer position descriptions.
How much time do I need to give? Expand One of the great things about volunteering for Sands is our flexibility. Because our phone support services operate 24 hours a day our volunteer parent supporters can sign on for wide range of shifts across the week – day or night - through our virtual volunteer roster. For support-based roles we do ask a minimum commitment of one 8-hour shift per fortnight. We do offer other once-off or short-term roles that require no ongoing time commitment.
How long do I have to commit for? Expand It’s your choice. Your commitment to a particular volunteer position depends entirely upon your circumstances, interests, and the length of time your volunteer position is available for. For those going into support service roles, however, we do ask people to commit for a minimum of 12 months due to the level of training invested.
What kind of volunteering do you offer? Expand We offer ongoing as well as once-off opportunities for volunteers to get involved. Most of our volunteers undertake training to become parent supporters, providing understanding and support to other bereaved parents who reach out to Sands after their baby has died. We also have a range of non-support based roles, however, such as event coordination, hospital liaison, or office administration. To find out more about the types of roles available visit our volunteer recruitment page.
Do I have to be a bereaved parent to volunteer with Sands? Expand Not everyone who volunteers with Sands has lived experience of perinatal loss but all have a sensitivity towards and empathy for the experience of bereaved families. We have a range of non-support-based volunteer roles that anyone is welcome to apply for. You may be interested in becoming a Health Professional Liaison volunteer or an event volunteer. From time to time we also recruit volunteers with specific skills such as photography or journalism.
Who can volunteer with Sands? Expand Anyone over the age of 18 who has lived experience of miscarriage, medical termination, stillbirth or newborn death can apply to become a volunteer parent supporter. Due to the emotional nature of these roles we ask that potential volunteers wait at least twelve months after their most recent pregnancy loss to ensure they are in the best possible position to provide support to other parents. We welcome applications from men and women from a range of backgrounds and with a range of personal experiences of loss. As many of our support services operate by phone or online, you can become a volunteer parent supporter with Sands no matter where you live in Australia.