Immersion Program Northern Territory

27 March - 11 April 2010

For members and volunteers of the St Vincent de Paul Society

For more information or an application form please contact:

Lynette Trau Youth Coordinator

PO Box 1468 Nightcliff NT 0814

Phone: (08) 8948 8170

Fax: (08) 8948 2844 Email: youth@svdpnt.org.au

Web: www.vinnies.org.au/youth Or contact your St Vincent de Paul

Society Youth Representative

“What a stormy but

instructive era! We

may perhaps perish

in it, but let us not

complain for having

entered into it. Let

us learn much from

it. Let us principally

think differently than

we do, to recognise

there are Christians

in all camps, and

that God can be

served today as

always.”

Blessed Frederic Ozanam

St Vincent De Paul Society Immersion Program 2010

Who can apply:

The Immersion Program is open to current St Vincent de Paul members and volunteers aged 18-79. The 2010 group will consist of 5-6 participants plus a spiritual director and program co-ordinator.

Participants must have an interest in sharing themselves and learning from our Indigenous brothers and sisters in the community. Partici-pants will need excellent communication skills, the willingness to interact with a broad range of people and adapt to different conditions/experiences. Participants will be team players and will be expected to be in-volved with preparations and activities leading up to and following the Immersion Program.

Costs involved:

Participants will be required to cover the cost of their flight to/from Darwin. Once you arrive in Darwin all accommodation, meals and travel to/from the community will be covered by the program.

Application process:

20 Nov 2009 - Applications open 11 Jan 2010 - Applications close 16-19 Jan 2010 - Telephone interviews 27 Jan 2010 - Successful applicants informed

What is it:

The St Vincent de Paul Society Immersion Program is an intensive two week immersion experience to a remote Indigenous Commu-nity. The program is run in Nganmarriyanga (Palumpa), a community in the far north-east of Northern Territory that is home to approx. 500 people. The Immersion Program is a two-week live-in experience in the community, that gives St Vincent de Paul members and volunteers the opportunity to experience what it is like to live in a remote community, and gain a better understanding of what it means to be Indigenous in Australia today.

How does it work:

The program begins with a 3 day orientation program in Darwin. Following this, the group will travel to the community by light aircraft. During the time in the community, the group will run school holiday activities for the children. There will be the opportunity to celebrate the Easter Church services with the community. The group returns to Darwin for a 2 day debrief session before going their separate ways on the Sunday evening.

When:

Saturday March 27 - Sunday 11 April

Living conditions:

The program will involve being away from most of the conveniences of modern life for a two week period, for instance sleeping on camp mattresses, simple food, and definitely no TV! Participants must have a willingness to live in a simple communal environment with fellow participants.