|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
The Southern Cross Group exists because a dedicated group of individuals give their time on a voluntary basis. We all share the same goal - we want to make life more equitable for those who are globally mobile.
Our team is spread all over the world. It includes students, home-makers, retired people, and full-time professionals. If you have access to e-mail and the internet and would like to get involved, even just by contributing a few hours a week, please get in touch. You can help in a number of ways, some of which we've outlined below. Or you may have an idea we haven't thought of yet which could be developed, researched and pursued as an SCG issue for the benefit of the Australian expatriate community. Everyone has different skills, and yours may be valuable if you can spare the time.
Media Monitors in Australia
At present, the SCG has a need for media monitors in Australia. Most of our team is Australian and needs to be kept abreast of developments in Australia - but this is difficult from a distance. We need to keep up to date on policy developments and proposed legislation. In fact, anything happening in Australia which could impact the expatriate community overseas is important for the Southern Cross Group to know about.
Media Monitors in the US
We also need media monitors in the United States. Around 40 percent of the Southern Cross Group's membership is in the United States, and Australians in the US face particular issues. For example, US estate tax laws treat non-US citizens differently to US citizens. Furthermore, the credit history reporting system in the US is problematic for expatriates moving to the US for the first time. In addition, Australia has no working holiday visa scheme with the US, which we would like to help do something about. And we'd like to provide input to both the Australian government and the US administration if and when the two countries negotiate a free trade agreement, because we'd like special provisions on the free movement of people included.
Media Monitors in Europe
There are also opportunities in Europe for people to monitor developments in their country or at the EU level that impact on non-EU nationals.
Researchers
We require on an ongoing basis people who are prepared to take a topic which we know very little about and do basic research to bring the Committee up to speed, so that we can decide if a particular issue should be pursued by the Group. This can also involve developing information for pages on our website as a resource for our members, and building up a list of important contacts in government and the media for the topic.
Country/Regional Coordinators
You might like to consider becoming an SCG Coordinator in your country or region. We are seeking to build up our network all over the globe. Coordinators provide us with information about special issues faced by expatriate Australians in their country or region, and also help us build up our local networks with other expatriate groups and individual Australians. When an overseas Australian contacts the SCG for the first time, if we have a coordinator to put them in touch with near them, that person can more quickly be integrated into our work and we can help them feel part of the expatriate community in their country. And when we need individual Australians to write letters to decision-makers on a particular issue, our country coordinators can help rally support locally. At present we are under-represented in particular in Asia, South America, and Africa. Even if we already have a coordinator in your country or area, there's always room for extra help!
If any of these volunteer opportunities appeal to you, please get in touch with Anne MacGregor.
