GV Hospice volunteers undertake an extensive training period before commencing their roles with a client.
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Goulburn Valley Hospice Care is calling on compassionate community members to step forward as volunteers, particularly in the smaller towns across Greater Shepparton.
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Hospice volunteers often become a companion, a steady presence, sometimes even a lifeline for a person in their most vulnerable stages of life.
And that need for people to support clients with life-limiting illnesses continues to grow.
“It’s about being someone they can rely on each week,” GV Hospice client care and volunteer co-ordinator Maree Chin said.
While the organisation is always looking for help in its op shop, the most urgent need is for client care volunteers who can visit people in communities including Dookie, Katandra, Merrigum, Mooroopna, Murchison, Shepparton East, Tallygaroopna, Tatura and Toolamba.
“We always need volunteers,” Ms Chin said.
“The urgent need is for client care volunteers that work in the little towns in and around Shepparton.”
Volunteers might do as little as share a cup of tea, go for a walk, read a book or accompany clients to their appointments.
Each visit is tailored to the client’s needs and interests, with volunteers matched to clients based on shared backgrounds, hobbies or life experiences where possible.
While the demand for volunteers outside Shepparton continues to grow, the struggle remains in recruiting people willing to travel to those smaller communities.
“We have volunteers in some towns, but not enough to meet the demand,” Ms Chin said.
GV Hospice is also trying to build its culturally diverse volunteer base.
Last year, six of the eight new volunteers were bilingual, allowing the service to better support clients from multicultural backgrounds.
In some cases, volunteers have been matched with clients who share the same language, and on other occasions paired through common cultural traditions or faith, helping build meaningful relationships despite the language barrier.
GV Hospice currently has 38 volunteers, although not at the same time, with many getting older and not always available due to travel, health or family commitments.
Volunteers must be over 18 and have not experienced the loss of a close loved one within the past 12 months.
All volunteers are required to complete a short-intensive training course before being assigned to a client.
Those interested are encouraged to give around an hour a week to support someone in their community.
“It’s not about having medical skills,” Ms Chin said.
“It’s about being kind, willing to listen and making someone’s week a little brighter.”
For more information or an application form contact Maree Chin via 5822 0068 or email mareec@gvhospice.org.au
Volunteer Maria Wiedemann with her client Grace Ennis.
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