Prison Fellowship is seeking Christian volunteers from around Tasmania who are committed to serving God in ministries among those affected by crime.

There are many opportunities to contribute to the work of Prison Fellowship:

Volunteers come from all walks of life, age groups and denominational backgrounds. 

Trained volunteers serve in prisons and in family ministries. Other volunteers assist in administration, with projects, as pray-ers, and on the PF State Council.

What does it take to minister to inmates and their families? 

• Motivation: It is important that volunteers have a biblical basis for ministry. Avoid a romantic fascination with crime and trying to get quick conversions.  

• Right attitudes: An ongoing relationship with God, willingness to work with others and a holistic approach to ministry. Genuinely caring.
   
• Openness and teachability: be willing to learn and build caring relationships. Know your strengths and weaknesses.
   
• Ability to listen: developing good listening skills is essential.
   
• Acceptance of others with all their faults: Avoid judgemental attitudes. Don’t pry or probe into a person’s history.
   
• A mature faith: Share about Christ and your experience of Him. There is no room for denominational bias. Point people to a growing faith in Christ.
   
• Consistency and dependability: Toward your team and those to whom you minister – including Corrective Services staff. You choose the amount of time you are prepared to commit to this ministry and you are expected to keep your clients and team informed of changes.

1. Pray and seek God’s wisdom as to what aspect(s) of the ministry you could be involved in.
2. Pray for a loving and genuine heart for those who have been affected by crime.
3. Maintain and grow your own relationship with God.
4. Get other people to be praying with you. Use the prayer calendar and Newsletter as a source of prayer and praise points.
5. If possible link into a local Prison Fellowship group.
6. Read and watch material about justice and reconciliation. Take a look at the Prison Fellowship International, Breakpoint, and the Colson Centre for Christian Worldview websites. 
7. If possible, attend Prison Fellowship functions.
8. Become involved in a Prison Fellowship project by praying, sponsoring or assisting with administration and planning.
9. Apply to become a volunteer.

Volunteer Application process:

Contact the Prison Fellowship office for an application form and details of our next information session.

Complete the Volunteers Application form - this includes sourcing three referees, one of whom must be your minister/pastor. Sign the PF Statement of Faith and note any doctrine that you do not fully agree with. Complete the National Police record check application and enclose a $5 cheque or money order made out to Tasmania Police (unless you have a current National Police record check that is less than three months old).

Prison Fellowship staff will then contact the referees and assess your application. Average processing time is 3-6 weeks - processing time largely depends on the response time of referees and a National Police record check.

Once assessment of your aplication is complete, we will contact you to arrange an interview.

The final stage of becoming an accredited volunteer is induction training in prison ministry. Training is approximately 8 hours if you will be visiting inmates.

At this point acceptance of your application will be finalised and Tasmania Prison Service (TPS) ID pass wil be applied for.

Notes:

• Volunteers who may come into contact with children are required to undertake ChildSafe training.
• Each volunteer is expected to be a part of a local church where they gain nurture and pastoral care.
• Prison Fellowship and the TPS provide appropriate training.
• Prison Fellowship provides public liability, accident and injury insurance cover for volunteers.
• As a volunteer you will receive all the support you need from you PF team leader.
• Volunteers are exepected to adhere to PF and TPS policies and procedures.
• Each volunteer is required to submit a summary of their activity on a monthly basis.
• Each volunteer is expected to have a personal email address.