Asylum seekers and refugees are people like you and me who have had to flee from their homes due to persecution or war. They face many challenges as they grieve what they have left behind; learn new language, new culture, new systems; face marginalisation and stigmatisation.

Sydney Refugee Team Companions are local couples and individuals who are willing and available to regularly visit one refugee family. Visitation helps break down barriers of isolation as English is practiced in a non-threatening environment and easy-going conversation. Fear of the unknown is reduced by having someone for company when going shopping or to an appointment. The offer of authentic friendship helps create a safe environment for refugee families. Our refugee and asylum seeker friends are freed to more easily embrace a new life looking forwards to a positive future.

This Sharing Jesus' Hope with Refugees Workshop provides foundational training for all Sydney Refugee Team Volunteers. It helps you to think about and understand their experience and the issues they face. We will explore what the Bible says about how God sees refugees and how we respond to them. It will help you to think about ways that you can share the hope of Jesus with people who are seeking asylum and refuge.

This Volunteer Companion Training prepares you to share the hope of Jesus in the context of friendship with a refugee family. It helps you to understand the role of a Companion. Topics include: communicating cross-culturally; refugee trauma; self-care; complex Australian refugee systems. We will also share a meal prepared by one of our refugee friends and hear from their experience.

Please note: The Sharing Jesus' Hope with Refugees Workshop is a PRE-REQUISITE for the Volunteer Companion Training.

Further Information:

The Workshop prepares you to be a Sydney Refugee Team Helper Volunteer.
Helper volunteers can participate in all activities with supervised contact with refugee families, including Family Weekends, Picnics, Food Parcel Team, and Freedom to Flourish groups.

Volunteers who wish to wish to visit people in their homes as a Companion Volunteer must complete both the Workshop and Companion Training.

All volunteers must complete an application at completion of training and must complete a National Police Check and provide a current NSW Working With Children Check number.