ABN 33 008 547 028
PO Box 613., RosnyPark 7018 TASMANIAAUSTRALIA
: 61(3)6238 4341- M: 61 459 383 857
:
LIVE-IN ASSISTANT APPLICATION FORM – 2015
Date: XXXX
TO: XXXX
Thank you for your enquiry about coming to L’Arche Australia as a volunteer live-in Assistant.
We are always interested in people who wish to discover the gifts of living in Community for a time with people with intellectual disabilities. I am pleased to send you information on L’Arche in Australia and PERSONAL INFORMATION FORM to be completed. The completed Application is to be returned to us via email. I know that there seems to be lot of information to be gathered but we do need to satisfy ourselves that the people we invite to live in our households have seriously reflected on their reasons for wishing to experience this lifestyle. We encourage you to be prompt in your correspondence with us – it can take up to six months in some situations for the application and immigration process to be completed.
Our expectation of people who want alive-in experience in a L’Arche community is that they will come for a discerning period of three months and depending on a positive experience, commit themselves for the remaining nine months of the year. Successful applicants come to L’Arche Australia under a special Government Visa that allows volunteers to stay in Australia for up to 12 months in a program for “approved community benefit or cultural enrichment”, after which they must leave the country – sometimes Communities invite volunteers to stay a further six months, and the Visa can be extended for that period but no longer than 18 months in total. Entry to Australia on the special Visa for L’Arche means that people can only remain in Australia in their capacity as a volunteer in L’Arche.
New Assistants receive a small but adequate financial allowance. Conditions of financial allowances vary slightly between Communities.
Once we receive your completed forms we then send out the CHARACTER REPORTS to your designated Referees and wait for their replies. This may take some time. We require your cooperation with this – that your designated Referees are willing to complete the paperwork we send them; and that they will email this to us as soon as possible.
If your application is short-listed for consideration, than at a later stage we will then ask you to provide the following information:
- A Police clearance from your country of residence, and, if in a language other than English, a translated copy plus the original
- A Certificate showing completion of basic First Aid training
- Copy of a Driver’s Licence (local & international)
If you already have a current First Aid Certificate, we ask you to include a copy of it when you return your application form. Please tell us when the certificate will expire. A driver’s licence is highly desirable.
Once this part of the process is satisfactorily completed, I then see which of the Communities in Australia has most need of Assistants. That Community Leader will then continue the process with you.
The procedure for obtaining the appropriate visa will be explained by the Community Leader.
Regarding health and medical insurance, the policy of L’Arche Australia is that Assistants coming from overseas are responsible for their own health insurance.
Australian Citizens are covered by a health insurance system called Medicare which enables them to see a Doctor at reduced cost, and to receive free hospital cover. Overseas Assistants coming to L’Arche in Australia are not covered by this system. The Australian Government requires proof of adequate health insurance before it will approve a Visa to be a live-In Assistant.
You are responsible for the cost of your travel to and from Australia to your own country.
I trust this information answers your most urgent queries – please feel free to contact me for clarification of any details. I look forward to hearing further from you.
With best wishes,
Peter Ryan on behalf of
David Treanor
National Leader
N.B. PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS IN WORD FORMAT; THAT IS, TYPED.
ASSISTANT APPLICATION FORMPERSONAL DETAILS
Last Name / First Name / Other Names
………………...... / …………………….. / …………………………..
AddressCityCountry
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
Nationality
………………………………
Home Phone / Work Phone / Email Address / Mobile/ Cell Phone
……………………… / ……………………… / ………………………………… / ………………..
Skype Address
………………………
Date of Birth / Sex / Marital Status
……………. / ………….. / …………………..
L’ARCHE EXPERIENCE
Have you lived in a L’Arche Community / Name of Community lived in (if applicable) / Have you applied to another L’Arche community?
……………….. / ………………. / ………………………….
AVAILABILITY
When are you available to commence in the L’Arche Community? ......
Are you open to live in any one of our Communities where there is a vacancy? ......
If not, what are your preferences or restrictions? …………………………………………………….
ENGLISH SKILLS
To obtain a volunteer visa for L’Archethe Australian Government requires a recent IELTS score of 4.5, or equivalent TOEFL or OET result.
If you do NOT live in an English speaking country, or have not had an English-medium education, then whatEnglish
language training have you had? …………………………………………………………………………………………..
How good is your English?
Spoken: / Excellent / Very Good / Good / Average / Poor
Written: / Excellent / Very Good / Good / Average / Poor
YOUR HEALTH
Because of the nature of the role, it is necessary for us to ask some questions about your health. Along with your personal comments, L’Arche Australia requires a separate medical report from your doctor, which will be forwarded to you following receipt of your referee reports.
- How would you describe your current general state of physical, emotional health?
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
- Do you have special diet? Yes / No
- Do you have a history of serious illness, injuries Yes / No
If ‘Yes’ please give details on a separate sheet
- Do you have any history of psychiatric treatment?Yes / No
- Do you have a disability? Yes / No
- Do you feel you have any special needs in order Yes / No
If ‘Yes’ please give details on a separate sheet
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Please list fully all schools, colleges, universities and courses attended since the age of 14. Show any qualifications gained.
Name of School or College / Dates of Attendance / Type of course and qualification gained
Please provide further information regarding education, special studies, volunteer activity and/or other skills.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Beginning with your most recent employer, please list all present and past employment.
Use a separate sheet if you prefer or if there isn’t sufficient room provided.
Name & Address of Employer / Type of Business / Dates of employment / Position and a brief description of your duties / Immediate supervisor’s name & phone number / Reason for leaving
What is your current employment or study status? Are you working/studying fulltime, part-time, or not at all? Please give details.
L’Arche may contact your previous employers as part of its selection process. If there is any reason why L’Arche should not contact anyone listed, please indicate their name(s) below, and state the reason why.
NameReason
……………………………… …………………………………………………………………………
The Government requires that applicants “demonstrate an interest in the area of intellectual disability.” In what ways do you fulfil this requirement?
Please provide further information regarding education, special studies, interests, volunteer activity and/or other skills.
DRIVING EXPERIENCE - Preference will be given to people who hold a Driver’s Licence for a motor car.
Have you a Driver’s Licence for a motor car? YES / NO
Have you had experience of driving in city traffic and willing to do that in Australia? YES / NO
For how many years have you been driving? …………
Include a scanned copy of your Drivers’ Licence with this application.
If you are offered a volunteer placement you will also need to bring an “International Driver’s Licence” which should be obtained before arriving in Australia.
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- You will need to obtain a Police clearance letter from your country of residence, and you will need to obtain a First Aid certificate which will be valid for the length of time you will be an Assistant in L’Arche. If you already have these documents please include them with this application. If not, then wait to hear further from us.
- Applicants are required to submit a medical report to prospective Community Leaders before entry into Australia. This will take place in the next stage of processing.
It is understood that the offer of a volunteer placement as a live-in Assistant is based upon the accuracy and truthfulness of information supplied in this application.
“I DECLARE THAT THE INFORMATION SUPPLIED IN THIS APPLICATION IS ACCURATE AND TRUTHFUL”
Name:Signature:Date:
………………………….. …………………………………..………….
SELF ASSESSMENT
Full Name / ……………………………………………
PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILED AND ACCURATE RESPONSES TO THE QUESTIONS BELOW
(a) Why do you wish to live and work in L’Arche at this time?
(b) What are your hopes and expectations about being a volunteer in a L’Arche Community?
(c) Have you ever lived in a community? If so, please give some details of your experience, and what you learned and found to be important. If you have not, then please tell us what you think community means.
(d) What experience have you had, (if any) of living or working with people with an intellectual disability? What do you consider to be the key skills and qualities needed in supporting people with an intellectual disability?
(e) What do you think you would enjoy about living and working in a L’Arche Community?
(f) What do you think you might find difficult about being in a L’Arche Community?
(g) Describe a situation which you found stressful. How did you deal with it?
(h) Describe a situation in which you worked as part of a team? What did you find difficult?
What did you find rewarding?
(i) What are your strengths as a person?
(j) What are your weaknesses? The areas in your life where you need help and growth?
(k) As an Assistant you will need to take instruction and advice from those in authority and those with more experience of the Community. How do you think you would respond to directives from others, especially those in authority?
(l) Describe a situation in which you have shown initiative or leadership.
(m) L’Arche is an ecumenical Christian Community. Everyone who comes is expected to live and work closely with people of different religious traditions, take part in the on-going prayer life in the Community households, and you may be asked to accompany members with an intellectual disability to their own churches. What are your reactions to these aspects of Community life?
(n) Do you come from a faith background that can contribute to this way of living? Share with us some of your story in relation to your religious and/or spiritual journey.
(o) Are there any circumstances that would prevent you from living full-time as a single person, sharing life with other people who live in the same way, in a L’Arche Community house?
(p) Do you have any questions or concerns?
(q) L’Arche expects a minimum commitment of one year, depending on the outcome of the initial trial period, towards the end of which there will be a review of the Assistant by the Community. Is there anything that will prevent a one year commitment?
(r) Have any of your relatives (sisters, brothers, cousins etc.) lived in a L’Arche Community in Australia? Or lived in L’Arche communities in other parts of the world? If so, please give details
ABOUT YOURSELF
Please tell us a little about yourself including any of your aspirations, interests or experiences that you feel are not otherwise covered by this form. And what are your goals for yourself in coming to L'Arche?
REFEREES
Please give details of three referees whom we may contact in connection with your application.
Referees should be people who have known you for more than 3 years (e.g. employer, minister of religion, teacher, supervisor, voluntary agency coordinator etc.) and NOT MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS, PEERS OR WORK COLLEAGUES. If applicable, one referee should be a recent employer. If you have had previous experience in L’Arche then one must be from your former Community Leader.
It is your responsibility to ensure your referees will quickly respond to our email requests.
Referee One
Title - Mr, Mrs, Ms etc. / First Name / Surname
Daytime Phone No. / Evening Phone No. / Email Address (required)
In what capacity has this referee known you (e.g. employer, minister, teacher, supervisor, etc.)?
Referee Two
Title - Mr, Mrs, Ms etc. / First Name / Surname
Daytime Phone No. / Evening Phone No. / Email Address (required)
In what capacity has this referee known you (e.g. employer, minister, teacher, supervisor etc.?
Referee Three
Title - Mr, Mrs, Ms etc. / First Name / Surname
Daytime Phone No. / Evening Phone No. / Email Address (required)
In what capacity has this referee known you (e.g. employer, minister, teacher, supervisor etc.)?
“I DECLARE THAT THE INFORMATION GIVEN ON THIS FORM IS, TO THE BEST OF MY
KNOWLEDGE, TRUE AND COMPLETE”
Full Name / Signature / Date
When you have completed this form you should email it to The Project Officer at
WHAT IS L’ARCHE?
L’Arche is an International Federation of Communities in which people with without an intellectual disability choose to live, work with and share their lives together. The first L’Arche Community came into being at Trosly in northern France on August 4, 1964, and was born principally out of the vision of Jean Vanier and Fr. Thomas Philippe. The name L’Arche, is derived from the ark of Noah in the Bible, and symbolises a place of refuge. In French, the word refers to the arch of a bridge, and implies a bridging role for the Community in bringing people together. Today L’Arche is an International Federation of some 140 Communities spread over more than 30 countries, in which people with an intellectual disability share their lives with live-in Assistants and others in an atmosphere of trust, friendship, belonging and forgiveness.
There are five L’Arche Communities in Australia. The oldest Community is in Canberra, others are in Sydney, Hobart, Brisbane and the newest is in Melbourne. L’Arche Canberra (Genesaret) supports thirteen members with an intellectual disability living in three houses with the same arrangement during the day. L’Arche Beni-Abbes (Hobart) has twelve members living in three houses and a Tenancy Support Program supporting fourteen people with an intellectual disability living independently in their own units. L’Arche Sydney has three houses supporting ten members with an intellectual disability, all of whom have either full or part-time work or day placement outside the houses. L’Arche Brisbane has been operating for five years now and has two houses supporting a total of six members with an intellectual disability. L’Arche Melbourne operates on a different model and at this point does not offer placements for overseas Assistants. In Melbourne two people with an intellectual disability lives in community with another two people and they welcome people to visit their household at weekends and for holiday periods – the Melbourne Community only welcomes Australian volunteers at this point in time. In many Australian L’Arche Communities, the member with an intellectual disability is known as a Core Member. Regional weekends for Assistants from all Communities occur at least once a year.
L`ARCHE INTERNATIONAL IDENTITY & MISSION STATEMENT
Identity:
We are people with and without intellectualdisabilities,
sharing life in Communities belonging
to an International Federation.
Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the
heart of our journey together.
We celebrate the unique value of every person
and recognise our need of one another.
Mission:
To make known the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities
revealed through mutually transforming relationships.
To foster an environment in Community that responds to
the changing needs of our members,
whilst being faithful to the core values of our founding story.
To engage in our diverse cultures, working together
toward a more human society.
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
“In order to become more fully human, each person needs to be considered unique, loved by God and capable of entering into a relationship. People with disability help us to discover how much the need to love and be loved is hidden in the heart of each person no matter what their pain or limits may be.”
Jean Vanier believes that people who are weak have a message for our world. They call us to create a network of love which is not closed upon itself but open to others. He says that the fundamental question for humanity is how to welcome people who are different; how to see that difference can bring complementarily; and that uniformity can frequently be very crushing………
“That is the fundamental disability. It is a disability of the heart and the incapacity to love and frequently just to be governed by fear; fear of what people say, fear of failure, fear of death and suffering.”
Several books have been written on the philosophy and principles of the L’Arche movement, the most notable being:
J. Vanier Community of Growth, DLT,London, 1989;
J VanierBecoming Human, House of Anansi Press, Toronto, 1999;
J. Vanier Finding Peace, House of Anansi Press, Toronto, 2003;
J. Vanier Made for Happiness,Arcade Publishing, NY, 2002;
J. VanierThe Heart of L’Arche, Novalis, 1996.
Other books on L’Arche include:
Bill Clarke SJ, Enough Room For Joy, Novalis Publishing, 2006; Paulist Press, 1974
Kathryn Spink Jean Vanier & L’Arche, DLT London 1998
Henri Nouwen: Adam, God’s Beloved Harper/Collins, 1997
Sue Mosteller: Body Broken, Body Blessed, Novalis, 1996
You will also find valuable information on some websites, including:
L’Arche Australia –
Jean Vanier –
L’Arche International –
CONTACT POINTS
If you would like to explore more the possibility of becoming alive-in volunteer Assistant in a L’Arche home, your first contact point is:
National Co-ordinator
L’Arche Australia
PO Box 613,