Positive Life NSW

Ankali Team: Michael, John, Jennifer and Rojo
The Ankali project was established in 1985 and the project continues to train volunteers to provide emotional and social support to people with HIV. Of course, the kind of work that volunteers do has changed dramatically just as the life experiences of people with HIV have.

Clearly there continues to be a need for volunteers to provide one to one emotional and social support to clients of the project. Volunteers usually meet up with their client each week for a coffee & chat, a movie or a walk in the park. The relationship is about meeting the needs of the client and can vary from wanting weekly or fortnightly support.

Volunteers are provided with a comprehensive and professional four day training program that aims to provide them with the skills and knowledge to be able to support someone with HIV. Volunteers are provided with weekly supervision and support by project social workers and fellow volunteers.

People with HIV can refer themselves to the project or they can be referred by a community social worker or other health professional. After a referral, one of the Ankali social workers will visit a potential client in their home to find out more about them. Clients and volunteers are matched with someone that they have similar interests with or personal qualities that they feel are important.

The project Social Workers routinely ask clients about their experience of their relationship with their volunteer and it is common for clients to speak very favourably. This is what one client had to say:

There’re lots of people around me – doctors, counsellors, other professionals, but my Ankali is different. She’s more like a friend. We have a chat and coffee, just normal things.

John Jones is a Social Worker with the Ankali Project.

The Ankali Project is a part of the Albion Street Centre and can be contacted on 02 9332 9742.