Literacy Intake Support Volunteer - Home Based
Student Interview Volunteer - Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust (RYALT)
Imagine picking up the phone, heart racing, to ask for help with something that’s always made you feel embarrassed. That’s what it’s like for many of our students when they first contact us. After years of shame or silence around reading and writing, reaching out takes immense courage.
That’s where you come in.
As a Student Interview Volunteer, you’ll be the calm, kind voice on the other end of the line — helping them feel safe, heard, and hopeful. This first connection is powerful. It’s not just about collecting information; it’s about making someone feel welcome and reminding them they’re not alone.
As a student interviewer this is what you will be doing
- Make the first call to say hello, complete our student interview form, and gently guide them through the process.
- Once they’ve received their reading materials in the mail, you’ll follow up with a second call to complete a short reading check.
- Your notes help us personalise their learning and match them with the right literacy coach.
How It Works
- New student names are posted to our online noticeboard.
- You put your hand up when you’re available — it’s all about flexibility.
- You’ll keep the team updated as you go (e.g. “left a voicemail,” or “first call booked for Wednesday”).
- You’ll be part of a small, supportive group of 3–4 interviewers working together so no one feels overloaded.
You will will receive support from us throughout this experience because we provide:
- A free phone app to make calls (so there’s no cost to you, and your number stays private).
- A messaging app called Slack (easy to use, like WhatsApp) for staying in touch with the team.
Why This Role Matters
- This role helps new learners feel like they’ve made the right decision. It builds trust from day one and lays the foundation for their learning journey.
One of our volunteers shared:
“I quickly became interested in the back stories of new learners and how they had slipped through the education system for many different reasons. I realised I really enjoyed the conversations and connections along the way.”
If you’re a good listener, calm under pressure, and enjoy genuine conversations — this is a deeply rewarding way to make a real difference.
Requirements:
- Have some teaching experience — especially if you’ve worked in primary education or adult literacy.
- Are familiar with running records, or open to learning the process.
- Feel confident with basic tech — like using Zoom or Slack (if you’ve used Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp, you’ll be just fine).
- Have a warm, calm presence that helps put people at ease.
- Communicate clearly and kindly — especially over the phone.
- Are reliable and responsive — you check in, follow through, and care about doing a good job.
- Speak English fluently with clear pronunciation.
A Police background check is required for this role.
Time commitment:
- Flexible hours — you choose when to make the calls. Each one takes about an hour.
- This is a long-term volunteer role, best suited to someone looking to give back over time.
- If you’re job hunting or after something shorter-term, we’ve got other great options too — just ask!
Getting started:
The first step is to express your interest by filling out the form below.
We will then put you in touch directly with the organisation for more information on the role and how to proceed.
Apply for this role:
