Volunteer Short Term Workers Agreement

 

Guidelines and Policies

 

Following are the Guidelines and Policies set by the Mission Board for Volunteer Short Term Workers in PNG.

 

Travel Documents

People volunteering their services to the Mission Board in order to support the work done in Papua New Guinea must have a valid Australian passport.

Visas are also needed to enter PNG. Three months tourist visas or 6 or 12 months working visas can be obtained from the PNG High Commission in Canberra.

 

Application for short-term position

Application should be made about six months before the proposed departure date. The Mission Board, in consultation with the Mission worker, will decide whether to accept an application on the basis of:

1.      Three references, one of them being from the Consistory of the applicant’s church, the other two are to be filled in by members of a Free Reformed Church (or sister church) who have known the applicant for more than one year;

2.      A personal interview, if desired by the Mission Board;

3.      The qualifications of the applicant;

4.      Whether a suitable program of work can be found for the time frame proposed;

5.      How many applications are received for a given year;

6.      The Mission worker’s recommendation.

 

Medical Information

1.      Make sure that you are healthy before you leave home. Volunteers going to PNG for more than three months are expected to provide evidence of a complete health examination. All volunteers should also ensure that their teeth are in good order. If you wear glasses, take a spare pair along. Contact lenses and solutions should be purchased in your home country;

2.      If you need prescription drugs, bring an ample supply along. An accompanying explanatory note from your doctor is a good idea;

3.      Chemists in Lae are reasonably stocked. However basic first aid kit should be purchased;

4.      All volunteers must receive the inoculations recommended by their doctor. These inoculations are given over a few months period, so be sure to visit your doctor on time! You will be expected to pay for these inoculations;

5.      The World Health Organization lists all of PNG as being a malaria risk area. The risk of contracting malaria in Lae is high.  You will need to refer to your doctor or alternatively The Travel Doctor (TM+VC) for advice regarding anti-malarial medication.  Expect to pay $10 per week for this (Note: a saving can be made if the medication (mefloquine) is bought in PNG (cost approx $3.50 per week pp).  By necessity a starter packet will need to be bought in Australia;

6.      All volunteers going to PNG must take out travel insurance. It is highly recommended that this insurance covers your personal effects as well, but it must at least give you sufficient medical cover. This cover should include accidental death, loss of limbs, medical expenses for accidents, in-hospital sickness, and medical evacuation/repatriation. If your insurance excludes activities such as scuba diving or motorcycle riding, you are not permitted to undertake such activities.

7.      In case of medical illness or injury, you will be transported to the nearest reliable doctor or hospital. Any expenses not covered by the travel insurance will be born by the volunteer him/herself.

 

Element of Risk

Living and working in PNG involves a greater element of risk than living in an industrialised nation such as Australia. Although the Mission Board will do whatever they can to ensure the safety and good health of all those associated with them, we can not predict what a short term worker will or will not face. The city of Lae is sometimes dangerous. The vast majority of citizens in Lae are law abiding and are eager to assist you but there is, as in many other third world countries, a strong criminal element. Although most criminals want no more than money, violence is not uncommon. For this reason, your movement in and around the city may be restricted, especially at night. For your own safety, it is important that you heed the advice of the Mission worker and members of the local community.

Short Term Workers should also understand that in the extreme unlikely event that they be taken hostage, they should not assume that the Mission Board would pay any ransom whether in the form of cash, commodities or services. The Mission Board will, however, do everything else possible to secure one’s release.

The Mission Board assures those working for them or volunteering their services, that they will not be expected to work in a particular area against their will. The decision to participate in any work ultimately rests with you, and you have the full right to end your service and return to your home country at any time.

 

Expenses

It is your responsibility to raise all funds needed for your trip. You are encouraged to seek assistance in this from others in the Reformed community.

Expenses you must allow for are:

1.      Airfares to and from Lae PNG;

2.      Spending money for outings, souvenirs, photography, postage, personal hygiene items, medication, etc.;

3.      Living expenses other than basic room and board.

 

The Mission Board will provide:

1.      Room and Board;

2.      Transport within PNG for Mission related purposes;

3.      All other Mission related expenses.

 

Personal Appearance.

First impressions make lasting impressions. As a mature Christian from the FRC of Australia you will be looked up to as an example to emulate. Therefore it is imperative that you be modest in your appearance, to avoid all offence. Because of the influence of past Missionaries and strict evangelicals today, a certain code of behaviour is expected, especially of Christians. To avoid being a stumbling block, you must adjust your appearance and way of life to fit that code.

 

Please take note of the following:

 

For Men:

1.      To attract as little attention as possible from potential thieves, limit the amount of jewellery you wear. Earrings are not acceptable;

2.      Your dress may be casual, but must be neat and respectable and kept clean. Avoid costly attire (for safety reason). Shorts are acceptable, but avoid tight fitting styles (this also applies to swim wear);

3.      Your hair must be groomed at all times. It should be kept short mid way or above the ear. Radical hairstyles (rat tails, skinhead cuts etc) and colours are not acceptable. You must remain clean shaved at all times or maintain a neatly trimmed beard and/or moustache.

For Women:

Just as the cultural standards of Australia are very different to those of fifty years ago, so the standards of PNG are different to what you may expect in Australia.  The citizens of PNG would be considered prudish and overly modest by our standards. A woman wearing shorts in PNG is generally looked upon as being immodest and even sexually explicit. In order to avoid the possibility of being a stumbling block and for the interest of their safety, women should not wear clothing that exposes or draws attention to the thighs in any way.

 

Furthermore, the following guidelines must be maintained:

1.      For reason of safety, jewellery should be kept to a minimum. Small earrings are fine;

2.      Shorts can only be worn in exceptional circumstances. As a rule, especially in Lae, full skirts and dresses (light cotton) should be worn. If the material is light and see-through petty coats should also be worn.  Skirts should be knee length or longer. Culottes are OK. Small or tight fitting tops, crop tops and any questionable tight clothing is unacceptable;

3.      Bathing suits must be of modest, one-piece styles.  When swimming in public places shorts and shirt should be worn over bathers;

4.      Radical hairstyles are unacceptable;

5.      Make-up, perfumes etc. should be kept to a bare minimum.

 

    Mission Board policies:

    The Mission Board genuinely welcomes and appreciates those willing to volunteer their services for the work of mission in PNG. However, in order to ensure as much as possible that all volunteers be a great blessing and be a positive example to the people of PNG, you are expected to agree to the following policies:

1.      Volunteers are to be communicant members of one of the Free Reformed Churches or sister churches;

2.      Volunteers must submit themselves to the full Word of God, as the Church confesses it in the Three Forms of Unity;

3.      Volunteers must endeavour to complete the tasks assigned to them efficiently and to the best of their ability;

4.      Volunteers must be respectful towards the people, language, culture and country at all times (remember that you are a guest);

5.      In light of the culture, couples should avoid any public display of affection;

6.      High hygiene standards are expected at all times;

7.      There is to be no public consumption of alcohol;

8.      There is to be no smoking; smoking is ground for immediate dismissal;

9.      Any extra costs generated by the volunteer are to be paid by that person;

10. The volunteer is subject to the guidance and leadership of the Mission worker;

11.  While the volunteer is encouraged to interact with the local people, he/she should never promise gifts, money, photographs or sponsorship;

12. The volunteer may not discuss the matter of mission policy with anyone on the field other than the mission personnel and/or Mission Board. He/she must respect the mission policy in place at all times and not speak or act in a way contrary to it;

13. Each volunteer is expected to report to the Mission Board in writing, upon completion of his/her trip, or more often if this is desired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination of Agreement

The Mission Board can terminate the agreement:

1.      If the volunteer does not abide by the above policies;

2.      Should the volunteer become delinquent either in doctrine or conduct;

3.      When significant personality difficulties between the Evangelist or the Mission worker arise which cannot be resolved and make working together detrimental to the mission efforts;

4.      When the PNG Government decides to withdraw the working permit;

5.      When the political or security situation makes working in Lae unsafe.