Ankali

The Ankali Project was set up to provide emotional and social support to people living with HIV/AIDS (plwha). 130 volunteers backed by three social workers and an administrator are responsible for maintaining the well being of clients, ensuring they have someone to talk to in times of uncertainty,  and someone to share social activities, just ordinary, everyday things.

Emotional support volunteer

The Ankali volunteer training program has been developed to help volunteers gain an understanding of the many issues that plwha might be dealing with. Many different topics are covered in the training, such as medical issues, current treatments, psychosocial issues, loss and change, communications skills and working with people who have complex needs. It is conducted over two consequent weekends.

In addition to the support the volunteers give to PLWHA, there is a strong focus on the support the volunteers themselves need to perform the work they commit to. Volunteers receive comprehensive support and supervision by attending peer support groups at Ankali House on a weekly basis, and also individually from staff members when necessary. 

Many people might think they are not the right sort of person to do this kind of volunteer work, but there are no specific types of people who make good Ankali volunteers. Current volunteers come from a very diverse background of interests, employment and life experiences. The project attracts volunteers from across the wider community, who are interested in this type of work.  When they meet together as they do each week, the trappings of life become irrelevant. It gets down to basics – people helping people.

This melting pot of different volunteers is what makes Ankali work – the project isn’t looking for angels and saints, just ordinary people with the willingness to give and who want to try and make a difference in somebody else’s life.

Clients

Like our volunteers, our clients also come from diverse backgrounds with different experiences. To be eligible for Ankali volunteer support, a client must be a person living with HIV or be a partner, family member of a person with symptomatic HIV. Referral criteria: plwha who may be experiencing one or more of the following psychosocial issues: social isolation, loss and change, depression, crisis, a period of review or decision making, respite needs, or feeling unable to explore emotional issues with those closest to them because they are also directly affected.

Would you like to know more about being an Ankali volunteer?

Further information about becoming a volunteer with the Ankali Project is available through the Ankali Volunteer Booklet, or by calling (02) 9332 9742 during business hours. 

Ankali Project - A Division of the Albion Street Centre
150 Albion Street Surry Hills NSW 2010
Telephone + 61 2 9332 9742
Facsimile + 61 2 9360 3243
Ankali