VU x Asylum Seekers Center

The Asylum Seekers Centre supports asylum seekers and refugees in Sydney through community lunches, advocacy, and direct support services.

Join Volunteers United and the Asylum Seekers Centre for a hands-on lunch service, helping serve and pack meals for asylum seekers and refugees. As lunch will already be cooked and ready to go, this is a smaller, more relaxed session focused on plating, serving, packing takeaway meals, and washing up. This is direct human connection - your presence and care matter as much as the meal itself.

What you'll be doing:

• Helping prepare salads
• Plating up lunch buffet-style for clients
• Packing takeaway meals and freezer meals for clients to access anytime
• Washing up plates and utensils, and wiping down kitchen surfaces

Shift Details

Location: Asylum Seekers Centre, 43 Bedford Street, Newtown 

Date: Tuesday, 22nd September

Volunteer shift: 11:30 am - 2:00 pm

Volunteers needed: 5

WhatsApp community: TBA

Schedule:

• 11:30 am - Arrival and help prepare salads
• 12:00 pm - Arrival for those serving and washing up only
• 12:30 pm–1:00 pm - Plating up lunch buffet-style for clients
• 1:00 pm onwards - Packing takeaway and freezer meals, and washing up
• 1:30 pm–1:45 pm - Wrap up and kitchen surfaces wiped down

Why volunteer?

• Provide direct support and connection to asylum seekers and refugees rebuilding their lives
• Learn about asylum seekers' experiences and challenges in Australia
• Be part of a welcoming, dignified community experience
• Connect with other compassionate students

No cooking experience needed - the ASC team will be on site to help direct the team throughout the session. The ASC Lunch team will email you the week before with final details.