VSWR Volunteer Training Progam

All volunteers must participate in a minimum standards training policy, as mandated by the Ministry. The 80 hour training program provides potential volunteers the opportunity to:

• Be trained to the minimum standards as set by the Ministry of the Attorney General.
• Raise more skills and confidence to perform their duties.
• Learn more about the service and their role within it.
• Satisfy their need for social interaction and special knowledge.
• To form an identity with the program and further develop a relationship with the Program Manager and the other volunteers.

In order to ensure that volunteers will be well equipped to provide services to victims of crime, trauma and tragic circumstances, the training will address the following issues:

• Introduction to Victim Services
• Police Procedures
• Intimate Partner Violence
• Fire Procedures – Red Cross
• Community Agencies
• Crisis Intervention and Active Listening
• Mental Health
• Criminal Justice System – Courts and Services
• Sexual Assault
• Suicide
• Grief and Bereavement
• Elder Abuse
• Missing Persons
• Human Trafficking
• Cultural Diversity
• Universal Safety

Information on ethics and principles, and community resources will also be provided.

All volunteer applicants will be administered a final evaluation at the end of the training. The evaluation will be based on class participation, team work, attendance and completion of the training modules.