Becoming a volunteer counsellor Switchboard prides itself in providing a high-quality, peer-based telephone counselling, information and referral service to Victoria's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered communities.
Since 1991, we have been operating and refining two intensive training programs a year. Entry to the programs is not automatic, but by invitation following an initial selection based on written applications which is followed by an Orientation Day.
Selection process for prospective counsellors Training programs begin with an Orientation Day which introduces prospective counsellors to Switchboard and the commitment expected of them throughout the training program and once they join the service.
Orientation Day involves a number of group and individual exercises that are designed to assist the Training Team to determine if you are suited to peer telephone counselling. It is also an opportunity for you to decide if Gay and Lesbian Switchboard is a group you would like to join. Because of the peer-based nature of the service, people must identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender to be eligible for selection. Applications from people of non-Anglo background and women are strongly encouraged.
Desirable attributes for becoming a counsellor include a willingness to:
• learn and change
• challenge one's own beliefs and assumptions
• understand one's own subjectivity
• recognise that one cannot "solve" or "fix" other people's problems but can offer options, facilitate others to come to solutions themselves and support decisions that they make.
• be understanding and informed about particular issues that may affect the opposite gender and different groups within the gay, lesbian, bisexual transgender and intersex community.
The training programs Switchboard offers training courses for persons with no prior counselling experience and for professional counsellors. The course involves training to deal with various aspects and issues associated with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.
In addition to the trainers, a wide range of professionals are brought in to provide an introduction to various topics including the, coming out, intersex/transgender community and associated issues, domestic violence, family issues and other topics. Many different training techniques are used including various group activities, role-plays involving potential counselling experiences and exercises exploring perceptions about different issues.
The training can be challenging and may require stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. Ultimately, it is also very rewarding as it can teach you a lot about yourself as well as providing a solid grounding and understanding of various issues affecting our community.
Friendships and support networks are also forged through the training. The nuts and bolts Making a regular long-term commitment to work as a counsellor for Switchboard can be a challenging, emotionally demanding and sometimes frustrating. It can also be quite an isolated task, as at times you may be the only counselor on duty. During a two/three hour shift, a counsellor may see other counsellors on duty, and those arriving for the next shift. However at times you may be the only counselor on duty, creating some isolation.
Switchboard believes in providing support for all counselors and as such pastoral care systems are in place to ensure that all counselors are not affected adversely by any calls.
Working as a counselor at Switchboard can be a very rewarding experience, as it does offer the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping to build a stronger and more enriched GLBTI community as well as directly assisting individuals in need of support and information. It can also enrich your own life and provide you with the opportunity to find out more about yourself. Switchboard produces a weekly email newsletter forwarded to all counsellors.
An integral component of Switchboard is fundraising and counselors, and to that end several activities are organized each year to raise funds. These include film nights, trivia nights and other activitites. Counselors are encouraged to participate in these social activities.
Four times a year you will be asked to attend in-service training to aid your professional development as a counsellor.
Switchboard is overseen by a Steering Committee which meets regularly to discuss operational, fundraising and other issues. All counselors are able to join the Committee after having been part of Switchboard for at least a year, and elections to the Committee occur at the Annual General Meeting.
To Volunteer:
We are now accepting applications for our next intake of volunteers. If you would like to become a Switchboard volunteer counsellor, please fill out our on-line registration form so that we can add you to our database. Once the schedule for the next course is known, you will be notified.