Organisation

Blind Low Vision NZ

Description

Do you like reading the morning paper? 📰 Blind Low Vision NZ needs someone to read and record news articles and family notices from the local paper onto a phone line for people with vision impairment to listen to. All from the comfort of home!

Every day, an average of nine New Zealanders turn to Blind Low Vision NZ for support with vision loss. A quarter of those assisted are blind and the rest have low vision. Blind Low Vision NZ provides emotional and practical support with day-to-day tasks that people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision find challenging, enabling them to continue working and living independently.

This role helps Blind Low Vision members keep in touch with news and events in their community by reading parts of the local newspaper and other publications for the Telephone Information Service (TIS). This service is accessed by members via their telephones so they can listen to what is in the papers and happening in their region.

• Do you have a phone and access to a newspaper?

• Have an hour or so to spare each week before 10.30am?

• Are you comfortable having your own voice recorded for others to listen to?

If the answer is yes, you might be who they are looking for.

Narrators make a world of difference to those who are blind or have low vision, supporting them to participate in the community by staying up to date with current events. Volunteers also gain an insight into the work of Blind Low Vision NZ and the satisfaction of supporting their mission. This role can be done autonomously and in the privacy of one’s own home.

People who give their time at Blind Low Vision NZ make a huge difference to those who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision across Aotearoa New Zealand. There are many ways to get involved, whether weekly, monthly, or occasionally. Blind Low Vision NZ offers opportunities to suit different interests and makes great use of individual talents while helping people gain new experiences. However someone chooses to help, they are making a world of difference to someone.

Training

Training is provided via online induction modules, which can be completed in your own time, taking about two hours. This includes mandatory compliance courses: Health and Safety for Team Members, Privacy Act 2020, An Introduction and History of BLVNZ, and Our Mission and Values.

Requirements

• 📰 Good time management skills (readings need to be done by 10.30am)

• 🎙️ Loud, clear speaking voice with a good grasp of the English language

• 📰 Access to a newspaper

• 📞 Uninterrupted access to a phone for approx. an hour and a half on a regular weekly schedule

• 🦯 Completion of Blind Low Vision NZ online induction modules

• Police Background Check

Time commitment

• Initial induction: 2 hours to complete induction modules at your leisure

• Approx 1 hour per week thereafter, to narrate and record stories

Background Check

Ministry of Justice - Standard procedure for Blind Low Vision

How to apply

Please contact Gendi Te Keepa / gtekeepa@blindlowvision.org.nz

Please copy (cc) volunteer@otago.ac.nz into your application email