Calvary Health Care Bethlehem

Volunteers

The palliative care volunteer’s role is to “strengthen the ability of the ill person to cope with life, to participate in as much as they can, and to live as fully as possible”.    

Palliative Care Victoria, Volunteer Support Workers, May 2003

Social support and a wide range of other services and activities are available through Calvary Health Care Bethlehem’s Volunteer Services. Volunteer services are an integral part of our Mission and are valuable members of our interdisciplinary team contributing to the holistic care of inpatients, day centre groups and community clients.

By sharing their time, skills and expertise, they perform many tasks which contribute to our reputation for excellence in holistic neurological and palliative care. 

Volunteering is a great way to share your knowledge and time contributing to the care and wellbeing of others in your community.

Who can be a volunteer with Calvary Health Care Bethlehem?
Individuals with a mature and caring attitude, willing to help others, can become part of the Bethlehem Volunteer Services. Flexibility and sensitivity are essential qualities that motivate volunteers to provide support within the hospital, our two day care centres, or in the community.

Volunteer services undertaken:

• Comforting presence, often without words
• Writing patients memoirs, stories and letters
• Assisting with meals
• Assisting with outings
• Organising reading material
• Transport assistance/support/home visits
• Card games
• Arranging flowers
• Assisting relatives
• Assisting in group programs
• Manicures
• Tactile therapeutic massage/hands/feet/head
• Social support at home
• Supporting the hospital’s shopping trolley service
• Visiting pets program
• Administrative support

Volunteer education
We direct a considerable amount of resources towards volunteer programs to ensure our volunteers are well supported. By providing volunteers with skills and training that can be used outside the Calvary Health Care Bethlehem environment, the benefits of these programs also flow beyond their involvement with us to the broader community.

1. When volunteering at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, a one-day Induction is required for all staff.

2. The Calvary Health Care Bethlehm orientation training program is conducted yearly for all new volunteers consisting of a 30-hour training program presenting the following:

• The philosophy and objectives of Calvary Health Care Bethlehem
• The concept of palliative care
• Caring for individuals with MS, MND and Huntington’s Disease.
• Aspects of loss, bereavement, death and dying
• Holistic, multidisciplinary team functions
• Communication skills
• Tactile therapy skills
• Volunteer's rights and responsibilities and duty of care in volunteering

3. The "Buddying" process is a mentoring program where support is provided by trained volunteers to new recruits.

4. Individual volunteer support and debriefing is always available by the volunteer manager and other professional staff as needed.

5. Monthly meetings and in-house training.

Support and training for volunteers is ongoing and is structured to the individual and group needs, and Calvary Health Care Bethlehem’s requirements.

Becoming a volunteer with Calvary Health Care Bethlehem requires that you:

• Have a minimum commitment of 3 hours a week for 2 years
• Undergo a police check
• Participate in the volunteer education program
• Are willing to be part of a holistic multidisciplinary team.

Your commitment allows us to use your time and skills to provide a quality service for patients, their family carers and staff.

Want to know more?
Please contact the Volunteer Manager at Volunteers@bethlehem.org.au or telephone 03 9595 3479