Volunteer Biographer - Sunshine Coast

About this opportunity

Do you have a passion for writing and storytelling?

Use your skills to make a lasting impact in someone’s life.   We’re looking for creative volunteers who enjoy writing and editing to help a Queenslander with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) share their legacy. This could take many forms - a memoir or life story, a collection of poems or short stories, cherished recipes, a family tree, or anything that captures their life, values, and memories.

  MND is a progressive, life-limiting disease, and while it affects each person differently, the average life expectancy is just 2–3 years. During such challenging and uncertain times, many people find comfort, purpose, and a sense of control through storytelling and legacy work. As a volunteer biographer, you’ll help give voice to someone’s story - preserving their words, wisdom, and spirit for the people they love.

This volunteer opportunity will take place at the Sunshine Coast (near Caloundra) and will require the volunteer to commit to weekly or fortnightly meetings with the client for up to six months (depending on how long the Legacy needs to be completed).

About the role: As a Volunteer Biographer with our Legacy Program, you will be supporting a client with documenting their chosen form of Legacy (life story, recipe collection, poems/short stories etc.) by note taking and transcribing their words, and lightly editing with their approval to produce a final product that will be printed and published for their own personal use by MND Queensland.   As the Volunteer Biographer – Legacy Program, you will be:

• Committing to weekly, fortnightly or monthly 1-hour meetings with a Legacy Program Clients
• Note taking, transcribing and lightly editing client’s words
• Supporting clients collaboratively to produce their chosen Legacy format
• Formatting the completed work in word/pdf ready to be professionally printed
• Committed to respectfully and confidentially producing the life story (or chosen form of Legacy) of people living with Motor Neuron Disease.

About you:

• Able to take notes, transcribe and lightly edit effectively and efficiently
• Comfortable with formatting on Microsoft Word
• Comfortable and willing to communicate with people who varying (and potentially deteriorating) speech capabilities
• Able to commit to an ongoing volunteer role until the completion of the Legacy
• Able to undertake activities independently and proactively
• Friendly, down-to-earth attitude
• Passion for helping others and making a difference
• Access to your own computer and car - and willing to travel to the Sunshine Coast (near Caloundra)
• Current holder of or willing to apply for NDIS WSC (Yellow card)

Additional requirements

• Driver's Licence
• NDIS screening check