STARS (Skills, Training and Resource Service) is funded by the
Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) under the Home and
Community Care (HACC) program, Canterbury City Council, and Leichhardt Council.
STARS covers the Canterbury, Leichhardt and Marrickville local government areas.
STARS also promotes the concept of volunteering to the broader community.
The role of STARS is to strengthen local communities by:
- Providing training for volunteers and management committees in HACC services;
- Providing information about volunteering;
- Providing assistance in finding volunteer work;
- Recruiting and placing volunteers with HACC services and non-HACC services in Canterbury and Leichhardt.
HACC services aim at assisting members of the community who are frail older people, and people with disabilities and their carers.
For further information, please contact the Centre, or click on one of the following links:
Eligibility
Volunteers
People 18 years and over, wishing to volunteer within the Canterbury, Leichhardt and Marrickville local government areas.
Agencies
All agencies must have volunteer insurance. Agencies include:
- HACC services offering assistance to clients within the Canterbury, Leichhardt and Marrickville local government areas;
- Not-for-profit organisations assisting clients in the Canterbury and Leichhardt local government areas.
Recruitment, Referral and Placement
The Recruitment, Referral and Placement service is a service provided by STARS to recruit volunteers and agencies in Marrickville, Leichhardt and Canterbury local government areas. STARS matches the volunteer’s skills and experiences with the volunteer opportunities available and places them with the local agencies that are registered with the service.
With the assistance of Canterbury City and Leichhardt councils, STARS are also able to register non-HACC service providers and place volunteers with them. While STARS is based in the Centre's premises in Lakemba, it also offers Outreach in the Leichhardt and Marrickville local government areas. The main purpose of this Outreach work is to provide a service more accessible to potential or existing volunteers, as well as service providers in the Leichhardt and Marrickville local government areas.
STARS has a long list of Volunteer vacancies available in over 100 non profit community service organisations across Canterbury, Marrickville and Leichhardt. Contact STARS for more information and/or to obtain a copy of the Volunteer Handbook.
Training
STARS provides training to new and working volunteers. Courses include:
- Volunteer Information Sessions
- General Volunteer Training
- Working with Older People
- Emergency Response
- Grief and Loss Workshop
- Occupational Health and Safety for Volunteers - Train the Trainer
- Occupational Health and Safety for Volunteers
- Safe Food Handling
- Computer Train the Trainer (for volunteers working with seniors)
- Assertiveness Training for Older Women Volunteers.
STARS also works with services to provide specific training for their volunteers.
Training Schedule
For a copy of a course flyer please contact STARS.
Click here to view the latest Training Schedule
Fees
Registration with STARS is free for individuals and agencies.
Training for new volunteers is free. HACC volunteers, a minimal fee will be charged for training. It is expected that the service sponsoring the volunteer or management committee member will cover this cost.
The training fee policy and fee scale are as follows:
Volunteers and Management Committee Members in HACC-Funded Services
A flat fee for training for each participant is charged to cover costs of morning tea, handouts and sometimes venue. Most training will fit into this category.
Staff in HACC-Funded Services
A number of courses presented may be relevant to staff in HACC-funded services. As STARS is not funded to provide training to staff, a higher flat fee is applied.
Non HACC-Funded Services
STARS is not funded to provide training to non HACC-funded services. Those wishing to attend are charged a higher fee which includes costs associated with preparing and delivering training.
Variation to Flat Training Fee
There may be some occasions when a higher fee will be applied, eg course requiring a training consultant or particular venues with more expensive room hire, but these will be the exception rather than the rule. We will generally be using free training venues and guest speakers from local services who donate their time, where possible.
If a service provider requests a customized course, specifically for that service, there may also be an additional fee.
HACC Service Providers with Limited Funding
Inability to pay will not exclude HACC service providers from training. For services with limited funding, a concession rate can be organized.
FEES Scale
| Service | Trainees | Course Cost per Person |
| HACC | Volunteers | $5.00 |
| Management committee members | $5.00 | |
| Staff | $15.00 | |
| Non HACC | All | $30.00 |
Feedback
STARS relies on the feedback of volunteers and services to provide a flexible and appropriate service.
Please feel free to discuss your needs with STARS, or alternatively, you can send us your feedback by using the Feedback form our the web site’s Feedback page.
Volunteer Positions
Please contact the STARS Recruitment Officer on 9750 9344 for further details on available volunteer positions.
