Steps to becoming a Street Chaplain

1. Attend a night patrol as an Observer

When you express an interest in serving as a Street Chaplain you may be invited to first spend an evening on the Streets with us. You’ll experience what we do both at the Rest and recovery van and out on patrol with the Assertive Outreach team. If you are still interested after the first observation you may be invited to do a second observation. This allows you to get a real taste of what it’s like to be on the streets as a Street Chaplain.

Contact us first before you visit. You’ll need to fill out an Observers Declaration form when you arrive at the Van or you can download it, sign it and bring it along when you arrive.

The Van arrives on Shields Street (near to the junction with Grafton Street and opposite the Nightowl shop) around 10pm on Friday and Saturday night. You should arrive at or before 10:15pm. When you arrive please be wearing covered shoes, dark coloured trousers or jean and a dark coloured top. You will be loaned a hi-viz vest or hoodie for the evening.

2. Fill Out The Cairns Street Chaplains Application Form

If you would like to formally apply to serve as a Street Chaplain then you will next fill out an application form and then arrange to either hand it to us or scan it and send it to us.

There is an initial one-off contribution of $50.00 to join the Cairns Street Chaplains. As this is a donation, it is tax deductible a receipt will be issued.

3. Interview

You will be invited to a formal interview with members of the CSC Board. A decision will be made after this interview whether to proceed further with your application to become a Cairns Street Chaplain of which you will be informed. Your references will be checked.

4. Street Chaplains Training

You will be required to undertake training which cover policies and procedures, set up and operation of the rest and recovery van, typical on street scenarios and other specific aspects of working as a Street Chaplain. The CSC Team Leader will contact you about this.

5. Read CSC Policies and Procedures Documents

6. Read CSC Role Plays

7. Visit the Blue card application website

Even though Cairns Street Chaplains is not a service for children we do on occasion have to deal with children on the streets and therefore a Blue Card is required. If you have not already supplied blue card details in your application:

8. Fill out the Police Check Form

We will also conduct a police check through Fit2Work. All applicants must fill out the police check form even if you have already done this for a different position.

  • A police check link will be supplied by the CSC Team Leader

9. Fill out the First Aid Training form and attend First Aid Training

You are required to book onto and attend a First Aid and CPR course. Cairns Street Chaplains will cover the cost of this course. The course is held over one day with our First Aid training provider First Response. You will receive a certificate upon completion.

Here are the steps to booking your course:

1. Check the Course Schedule

  • Find available course dates here (bottom of page – DO NOT CLICK TO BOOK THE COURSE)
  • Inform CSC Team Leader of the date you prefer
  • CSC Team Leader will book your course
  • First Response will send you the form to fill out

2. Fill out the First Aid Training Course Form

  • Fill in all of page 1 (including the USI number)
  • The course and date should be already pre-filled for you
  • Sign and date at the bottom of page 3
    (if filling in the form on a computer typing your name in the signature box is enough to ‘sign’ the form)
  • That’s all – you don’t have to fill in anything else!

3. Return the form to First Response

  • You will receive an email from First Response when your booking is confirmed containing more details. Be sure to read it well before attebding the course

10. Volunteer Position Description / Code of Conduct

Contact the CSC Team Leader to arrange a time to sign the documents witnessed by the CSC Team Leader or a member of the CSC board.

Before signing these documents:

  • Read the Position Description
  • Read Code of Conduct
  • Ensure you have read Read the Policies and Procedures Documents, Response Documents, Risk and Disaster Management documents in the CSC Members Area.
  • Print out two copies of each (one for records, and one for ours)
  • By signing these documents you are agreeing that you have read and understood them.
  • If you have any questions in regards to these documents please contact the CSC Team Leader.

11. Go on the roster and start your 3 month probation period

There is an initial 3 month probation period where we will check in with you to see how you are progressing.

First Aid Refreshers

All Street Chaplains must be re-certified for CPR every year, and for First Aid every 3 years.