Volunteer Services

 

Snapshot of Barwon Health I Requirements
Current opportunities I Next step
Contact us

 

   

 

Volunteer participation within Barwon Health ‘lengthens the arm’ of our services by enhancing the healthcare experience of our consumers (patients, residents, clients, families and carers) and optimising the health and wellbeing of our community.  

A volunteer’s caring and compassionate manner greatly adds to the quality of life of the people we care for.


Volunteers are the gateway to our community and the service provides opportunities to become involved with the work of Barwon Health. Volunteers at Barwon Health are an integral part of the health professional teams and are highly valued by the organisation for the importance in the quality of services they provide.  Volunteers are a valuable resource giving of their time, talent, commitment and energies to serving the Geelong and surrounding community.


Our large, diverse and dedicated team of volunteers provide innovative and rewarding activities and support to all program areas of Barwon Health.  Our volunteer service offers challenging activities and a community voice in planning and service development, as well as the more traditional supportive Volunteer roles.
 
The work of our approximately 800 volunteers is greatly appreciated by our staff, patients and their families.    
 
The different services where our volunteers work can include:
• Acute care
• Community health
• Rehabilitation
• Aged care
• Mental health

 

A snapshot of Barwon Health (2010/11):
• 56,312 - People attended the Emergency Department
• 9,201 - Surgeries were performed
• 2,052 - Babies were born
• 68,939 - Inpatients at Geelong Hospital
• 1,029 - Beds across all sites and levels of care
• 26,216 - Community Rehabilitation Centre attendances
• 40,632 - Dental contacts
• 10,595 - Child & adolescent mental health contacts
• 62,483 - Adult mental health contacts
• 41,303 - District Nursing treatment hours
• Approx 750+ active registered volunteers
 
There are many  reasons why people volunteer.  In a recent survey provided to all volunteers as part of our Strategic Planning Process, comments included:
•  "To give back to my community"
•  "To give time to Barwon Health in appreciation of service provided"
•  "Making a small contribution by helping people who need it the most"
•  "To gain experience to re-enter the workforce"
•  "To seek a fulfilling purpose after retirement".
 
Our volunteer roles are based across the whole organisation across our multiple sites, for example Geelong Hospital, the McKellar Centre and our Community Health sites (Belmont, Torquay, Corio and Newcomb).  Some of our volunteers volunteer in more that one role or area .
 
Volunteer activities can include but are not limited to:
• Consumer Representation   
• Companionship & support
• Recreational activities
• Peer Support  
• Mentors
• Information
• Voluntary driving and escort service  

 

The requirements of being a volunteer with Barwon Health are:

• Aged 16 years and over (note: 16 and 17-year-olds must have their parent/guardian to sign both the application and consent forms).
• In accordance with legislation, all volunteers must undergo a national police check (paid for by us) and, in some instances, a Working with Children check.
• We request our volunteers make a commitment to Barwon Health for a minimum of six months, at a minimum of around two to three hours a fortnight.
• You participate in the training / education required to undertake your role; this will normally be made up of one day of orientation to the volunteer program. In some roles further training / education may be required, e.g. driving accreditation, mental health education. There is also an initial period of on-the-job training.
• You attend ongoing education / information sessions with our Volunteer Coordinators; we request attendance at a minimum of two 'catch-up sessions' with your team leader or co-ordinator annually.
• You sign and agree to your selected volunteer role description and sign Barwon Health's confidentiality agreement.
• You inform us of any changes in your circumstances, such as a health issue (if it may impact on your ability to fulfill your role), change of address, etc.
 

Volunteers needed now!

The following is a summary of current volunteer roles that are vacant at Barwon Health. 

 

Please note something advertised today may be filled tomorrow.  Please also note this page is updated regularly but on some occasions maybe out of date; so important to review regularly.  

 

If you cannot find a role that interests you, do not hesitate to call our general enquiry line on 03 5260 3104, or email volunteers@barwonhealth.org.au to discuss your interests. 

If volunteering in the health sector is not the most suitable area for you, we encourage to make contact with Geelong Volunteering at 87 Mclarty St, Geelong, 3220, ph (03) 5221 1377, or  www.volunteeringgeelong.org.au; they provide an array of information on alternate volunteering opportunities across our the region.
 

Current opportunities for volunteering at Barwon Health:

• Emergency Department:  We are seeking volunteers to work three-hour shifts from 12pm - 12am.  This role can encompass activities such as providing emotional support to patients and families attending the Emergency Dept, offering conversation, tea/coffee or reading material to those waiting. For further information please contact Lyn Stack on (03) 5260 3036, or email  lyndas@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Information desk attendant at Geelong Hospital: Volunteers sought to to give direction and support to patients as they arrive at The Geelong Hospital. For further information, please contact Lyn Stack on  (03) 5260 3036, or email  lyndas@barwonhealth.org.au.
•  Patient Support: Volunteers sought to to provide assistance to wards/department staff by undertaking errands, changing flowers, delivering various items around the hospital and assisting in various admin jobs. For further information please contact Lyn Stack on  (03) 5260 3036, or email  lyndas@barwonhealth.org.au
• Paper delivery person: Volunteers are required to collect and sell newspapers to patients on wards at The Geelong Hospital (via roster system) each morning, also to deliver papers to Veteran Affairs patients. For further information please contact Lyn Stack on (03) 5260 3036, or email   lyndas@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Aged Care: Do you have a spare hour or so on a regular basis to play chess with a resident in Wallace Lodge (McKellar Centre, North Geelong)? For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email jacuilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Aged Care: Assistance is required to enable residents to access their email and internet in both Walllace Lodge and Percy Baxter Hostel. For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email  jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
•  Aged Care: Could you be the host of a regular book club at one of our residential aged care facilities? For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email  jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• McKellar Centre: We are seeking volunteers to take our lolly trolley around our Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility.  Seeking someone for a Friday.  For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email  jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• McKellar Centre: We are seeking volunteers for the main entrance Information Desk and Inpatient Rehab Unit Info desk.  This role assists visitors in finding their way around, locating patients, accepting equipment returns and running small errands. You will be the first point of contact for visitors and would need to be willing to learn quickly about the layout of the McKellar site.  Shifts of three to four hours between 9am - 7pm, seven days a week. For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email  jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• McKellar Centre: Our 34-bed orthopaedic rehabilitation ward needs volunteers to support the smooth transition of patients being admitted and discharged, provide companionship, maintain flowers and maybe apply a little nail varnish to brighten up someone's day. You will be part of the ward team and have the support of nursing and ancillary staff. For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email  jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• McKellar Centre: Our 34-bed neuro/stroke unit is seeking volunteers for one-on-one companionship, sitting with patients, or providing hand massages (in-house training provided).  You will be part of the ward team and have the support of nursing and ancillary staff. For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email  jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• McKellar Centre: Do you love books and reading? We have a selection of library books which need to be taken around to the wards to offer to our patients and residents. For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Alan David Lodge, Grovedale: Assistance required in various areas. We are seeking volunteers for four to five hours a week to escort residents to their appointments (use of wheelchair training provided). We are seeking someone to play cards, chess or encourage small social groups for the male residents. We are also seeking volunteers for the small on-site kiosks, run daily from 9.30am - 3pm. Also the lifestyle officers are seeking volunteers to assist them with their art activities. For further information, contact Jackie Lukacz on (03) 5279 2902 or email  jacquilu@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Transport: Current and/or new volunteers needed to be available to be 'on-call' to help out with driving mini-buses. These small people movers are based at our McKellar site and provide transport for our residents of our residential aged care facilities. You will require a current Victorian driver's license and be willing to complete our driving assessment. The co-ordindator of this service would then call you if one of the rostered drivers was unable to fill their rostered slot. This service drives our residents on outings to various destinations. For further information, please contact Ron Doutch (03) 5279 2137 or email RONDO@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Mental Health: No current vacancies.
• Community Health: Seeking volunteers for our Community Kitchen in Corio. The kitchen runs  every Monday and the role will assist with the running of the program. This program  assists  people to develop skills such as preparing a shopping  list, planning a meal and then cooking it.  This can involve working with people where English is their second language. On-the-job training provided.  We are keen to find people with a particular interest in cooking.  For further information please contact Maureen Earl on (03) 5279 2350 or email maureeea@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Community Health: Our Norlane Day Centre is seeking volunteers to assist in an array of areas, such a skilled computer user to help compile a newsletter and program; Craft-minded volunteers interested in sewing/knitting; Being part of BBQ sessions; Companionship; Entertainment; Music and singing. For further information please contact Maureen Earl on (03) 5279 2350 or email maureeea@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Administration & office support: No current vacancies.
• Publicity / media / newsletter / photography: Seeking people with skills and an interest to join our publicity / media team to assist in preparing articles on things happening in our service for newsletters, etc.  We are also seeking people with an interest in photography and interviewing to assist in this team.  For further information, please contact Karen Todd on (03) 5269 7195, or email  karento@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Renal Dialysis Unit Patient Support: Seeking volunteers to provide assistance to our renal dialysis units at both our Kardinia site (Geelong Hospital) and South Geelong site. This role incorporates chatting with patients while they are on dialysis, making tea and coffee and general companionship.  For further information contact Peter Dean on (03) 5226 7280 or email pdean@barwonhealth.org.au.
• Palliative care: No vacancies at present.

• Join our Consumer Register: Barwon Health is currently establishing a Consumer Register.  This is where we pool people who are interested to contribute their 'consumer' (patient, client, resident, carer/family, community member) experiences, ideas and knowledge to activities such as focus groups,  participating in surveys, being a member of a committee, etc.  Your commitment could be as little as one hour a month, to weekly, to more ad hoc as needed and as suits you.  For further information please contact Karen Todd, Volunteer Services/Community Participation Manager, on (03) 5269 7195, or email karento@barwonhealth.org.au.

 

For further info,  click here for the Consumer Register Information Application Form.
 
What is the next step?
Please check our vacancies above and call the related co-ordinator to discuss a role further if you are interested.
 
If it seems like the role may be suitable for you, the co-ordinator will arrange for you to come in for an interview, you will also be asked to complete an application form to become a volunteer .   
 
Please click here and complete the Expression of Interest form and email or post back to the relevant coordinator/s; it will give us useful background information on your interests and which role(s) you are interested in.  
 
Remember if you are under 18 years, you will need a parent/guardian's signature on your forms.  
 
After the interview, if you and the co-ordinator feel a role would be suited to you, they will then undertake the police check during the interview.  Once that is completed, you will be notified of when our next Volunteer Orientation sessions are scheduled  and you will need to book in.

 

We are planning on offering four sessions this year.  Once the orientation is completed successfully, you will be contacted to arrange a start date.  You will then undergo any further on-the-job training required.
 
If there are currently no vacant roles of interest to you please review our page again soon, or  contact  Geelong Volunteering as per above. 

 

For any other queries regards our volunteer service please contact us:
• By phoning (03) 5260 3104   
• Email volunteers@barwonhealth.org.au.

: : LATEST NEWS
Your Health Service, Your Future, Your say
2/3/2012
Want to help plan the future for Barwon Health?



From Beer to Maternity  (80 KB)
2/1/2012


Strike Out Stroke 2012  (1 MB)
1/10/2012
Strike Out Stroke is a free community event on Sunday, 25 March for the entire family and will help raise awareness of stroke in the Geelong region.

Clown Doctors to spread smiles at Geelong Hospital   (55 KB)
12/20/2011


Steve's cycle for kidney health  (78 KB)
12/9/2011

: : PUBLICATIONS
Making Waves - Issue 4, 2011
12/1/2011  (4 MB)


Annual Report 2010-11
11/15/2011  (4 MB)


Making Waves - Issue 3, 2011
7/29/2011  (1 MB)


Graduate Nurse Program
4/4/2011  (227 KB)


Making Waves - Issue 2, 2011
3/28/2011  (3 MB)



: : EVENTS
Walk and Talk Organ Donation
1/23/2012


Palliative Care conference 'Continuing Conversations'
1/23/2012


Blokes Day Out 2012
11/3/2011

Blokes Day Out: Friday 23 March - Sunday 1 April, 2012.

Find out more about how you can get involved.