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What is a Debrief?
A Debrief is an opportunity for you to meet with other volunteers who have returned to Australia and been through similar experiences. Ongoing support networks are vital to our learning and development, as is talking about your experience, assignment, challenges and triumphs. It allows you to reflect on what you did, identify how you contributed to your host country and organisation and gain new insights. It is also a space to explore future goals and ways VIDA can assist you to achieve those goals.
Research shows that people who have had similar cross-cultural experiences in a development setting find it valuable to come together in a structured, comfortable atmosphere to share lessons learnt enables them to integrate their experiences more effectively into their lives. It is not training or therapy or counseling but if there are issues that need addressing, the debrief team can identify opportunities for further information and support if needed.
Following a Debrief, it is expected that returned VIDA volunteers will:
- Be able to articulate the ways in which the experience has impacted on their lives
- Explore the effectiveness and impact of the assignment in contributing to development
- Reflect on the volunteer experience in light of current cross cultural and development practice
- Provide feedback to the Program, to contribute to ongoing learning and improving the volunteer contribution to development effectiveness
- Explore re-entry issues and identify strategies for effective cultural adjustment
- Identify future goals and strategies for their own capacity development and involvement, as appropriate
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