Plenty of valuable first-hand information about settling refugee families was shared at the recent NRFR network gathering in Ocean Shores.
Attendees came from Lismore, Tweed, Byron and Ballina and brought their experience of forming Community Supporter Groups (CSGs).
Perhaps the most useful bit of information was the importance of clearly communicating with prospective members of a new CSG about the commitment and many tasks involved.
Tips were shared among the CSGs from our learnings since August 2022 when the first refugee family arrived in Ocean Shores:
- CSG core group size should be at least eight to allow for dropouts, group members being sick or travelling.
- Members should live within 30-minute drive of each other.
- Core CSG members must be aware that for their 12-month commitment, the workload will exceed their expectations. For example, medical appointments, vaccinations and dental care can take up a lot of time.
- Let the refugee families know that CSG members are unpaid volunteers and what they can and can’t do.
- Find volunteers outside the group who can commit to a CSG for a fixed period and undertake non-urgent tasks.
- When a new CSG is forming, they need to be aware of the limitations of regional areas: eg public transport, medical services, educational needs, access to places of worship, and employment opportunities.
NRFR supports the CSGs through connecting the CSGs, assisting with funding, sharing resources and finding casual volunteers.
The next regional network gathering is scheduled for Saturday, November 29. If you are interested in becoming a part of a CSG, contact NRFR:
