Congratulations to Western Sydney Palliative Care Volunteer Service on 5 years of operation.
Western Sydney Palliative Care Volunteer Service started in 2016, since then they have provided practical, emotional, and social support to patients, families and carers in the Supportive and Palliative Care Unit at Mount Druitt Hospital and on C71 Medical Oncology at Blacktown Hospital.
Their wonderful volunteers provide a warm and reassuring welcome to new patients on the ward or unit; they offer support from a cup of tea, a vase for flowers, a relaxing hand massage, a tour of the ward/Unit, or a simple chat with a good listener.
Their role is not only to make patients stay as comfortable as possible, but also to ensure families are supported. Volunteers assist with activities such as mindfulness colouring books, diffusers with essential oils, CD players and music, hand knitted rugs, Memory kits for children, access to iPads or card and board games.
In order to provide the best service possible, volunteers are comprehensively trained on how to best support patients, their carers, and family. They provide a neutral listening ear during difficult times, and often have had a similar experience to patients and families that makes them want to give back to the community.
The service also has Biography volunteers who are trained to capture patients’ life story. They sit with patients to listen and record their stories and then transcribe and edit the story. Photos are included and at the end the service prints and bind the story for the patient and family to enjoy. This is a meaningful and lasting legacy which assists patients to process their experiences and pass this on to loved ones.
In the picture, new volunteers Kathy Bassett and Pranita Kumar with current volunteer Angie Vista (middle) during a delicious Morning Tea
Also, congratulations also to the new volunteers (trained in 2022) with their graduation certificates being welcomed to the team for Volunteer Week 16th – 22nd May.
Let’s all acknowledge the important role of Palliative Care Volunteers during this National Volunteer Week. We really are ‘Better Together’.