Kurbingui Literacy Project

Fast Facts:

Duration: 3 – 12 weeks (including 3 days of Orientation)

Location: Zillmere (Suburb in north Brisbane)

Arrival Airport: Brisbane International Airport

Working Hours: approx. 38/ week

Accommodation: Homestay (Single room) or Hostel (Shared room).

Transport: Zillmere is accessible via train and bus from Brisbane CBD (Train fare from Brisbane CBD to Zillmere is $7.20 /day [as at 23/11/2010] see: www.translink.com.au)

Requirements:

• Minimum age 18
• Ability to develop literacy resources and testing tools
• Experience in Literacy Programs desirable
• Teaching Background (optional)
• Good Oral and Written English skills
• Blue Card*

* Blue Card: It is required that all people working with children are checked to confirm they’re eligible to volunteer in child-related industries covered by the Commission’s Act. The Working with Children Check, also known as the blue card, is a detailed national criminal history check. Volunteers Australia will provide the necessary assistance in obtaining the blue card.

Cultural Orientation

All volunteers are required to attend a 3-day Cultural Orientation prior to visiting their allocated community. This may include:

Day One (Monday)

• Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History
• Explanation of Social Issues within the community
• What is culture…explanation of the elements of culture
• Men’s/ Women’s Business
• Didgeridoo demonstration
• Family Structure

Day Two (Tuesday)

• Body Language
• Protocol and Cultural Values and Obligations
• Totems
• Bush Tucker/Medicine (Bush Tucker Morning Tea)
• Introduction to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Art
• Visit to Indigenous Organisations

Day Three (Wednesday)

• Visit to Qld Art Gallery and or Eumundi (several Art Galleries)
• Introduction to the community specific to selected Volunteer Project

Note: Volunteers will be guided by local Indigenous and Non–Indigenous people living in the Community regarding cultural sensitivities.

Itinerary

Project Details: The project is run by a not for profit organization managed by a management team of Indigenous committed community members. It provides Adult Numeracy & Literacy courses for the community and trains others to become tutors of Numeracy & Literacy. The aim is to improve the quality of life for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander families across Brisbane.

Volunteer Requirements/Skills: Volunteers should have an ability to develop literacy resources and testing tools. Experience in Literacy Programs and/or a teaching and education background are desirable.

Your role as a Volunteer: Volunteers will assist in the preparation of literacy resources and assessment tools as well as teaching reading and writing to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people. Teaching is conducted in groups or on an individual basis.

Where the project is based: One of Brisbane’s older suburbs, Zillmere in Brisbane’s north was named after an early Lutheran missionary. The suburb was later farming land and J.C. Hutton’s Ham and Bacon Factory was established. Zillmere is approximately 14 km from the Brisbane CBD.

Zillmere has its own railway station, library, a state school and primary school and the Zillmere Community Centre, which holds regular activities and events. There are excellent facilities in Zillmere and its neighbouring suburbs including parks, bikeways, major shopping centres such as Chermside, Taigum and Toombul and the Brisbane Entertainment Centre at Boondall. Zillmere also has a high population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families as well as high numbers of families from other multi-cultural groups.

Weather & Clothing:

Brisbane has a very humid summer. Dehydration can occur very quickly in Brisbane. Increased water consumption and appropriate sun protection is essential in these areas to prevent illness.

As noted above the summer in Brisbane is hot and humid, use the above-mentioned table as a guide. Winters are quite mild although August brings westerly winds which drop temperatures quite significantly (below 10 ̊C).

What’s included