Mens Work

Mens Work

What is it like to work in a battered mens'/womens' shelter?

As a volunteer. What do you know about it that you can tell me? Thanks.
Working with Children and the battered parents...after a 40 hour workshop over the course of a month.

I haven't worked as a volunteer in a 'shelter', but as a paid employee for a number of years.

It was at times challenging, at times horrific, at times inspiring, sometimes scary.

Basically, the work we did involved receiving referrals from various organisations ~ the police, welfare groups, welfare agencies, that a woman and kids would be coming in.

Each new resident had to go through an induction process, including agreeing to certain things while she was in the refuge (no alcohol, drugs or violence; curfew hours, etc).

Each family shared a room with bunk bedding, and preparing the rooms and ensuring all was as it should be was a staff responsibility.

We also collected rent and other payments, such as for phone cards, so there was also cash handling responsibility.

The kids would have to be examined by a doctor and other medical people, school enrolment arranged, uniforms purchased, dietary and other needs dealt with by purchasing correct food or making vouchers for local shops available.

The mothers would have a roster of housework, meetings with professionals and other activities designed to maintain the refuge itself and also help them prepare for life after the refuge (we were a short term service, 12 weeks maximum).

This meant finding work, accommodation and community support, which could be difficult with several young children.

In Australia there is a pension available for single parents, and there is also some limited public housing which is subsidised, so a lot of time was spent dealing with government agencies to try and get any available benefits.

There's a lot of paperwork and a fair amount of being on the phone to organisations which provide various support services, plus job agencies, etc.

You also work with a lot of different government and non-government agancies, charities, police, the courts, etc, depending on what the situation for each family is.

It's a very diverse and challenging workplace, which stretches your ability to remain impartial and non-judgemental, especially where it comes to children.

It's also somewhere you see the best and worst of people, and the system.

Good luck with your placement

Mens Work

Tagged with: brazos work shoes 14 • Kids • mens • mens work

Filed under: Mens Shoes Discount