Health facilities in Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) are reopening their doors to volunteers, offering a variety of new roles that support health staff and improve the experience of patients and visitors.

NNSWLHD Chief Executive, Wayne Jones said 12 months of planning had gone into considering how the health service could maximise volunteering across the District.

“We are delighted to introduce Healthcare Helpers, a volunteer program offering individuals the opportunity to volunteer at their local health facility in a supported and meaningful way,” Mr Jones said.

“Healthcare Helpers can assist with a variety of tasks, such as lending their creative skills to craft projects with older patients, helping out with gardening the hospital grounds, or just being a companion for patients – fetching a cup of tea or warm blanket when it’s needed. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference.”

Lismore Base Hospital General Manager, Ian Hatton said the hospital was seeking volunteers to greet and guide patients and visitors throughout the facility, as well as roles to offer comfort and companionship to patients during their hospital stay. The health service will also recruit female volunteers to help support women accessing the BreastScreen Assessment Clinic.

Applications for Lismore based Healthcare Helper roles are open now, while a general expression of interest application is open for all other locations across the District, with more specific roles in other areas being announced shortly.

Local fundraising groups, Our Kids and the United Hospital Auxiliary (UHA) are also seeking new volunteers to help raise money for the health service.

NNSWLHD Volunteering and Fundraising Manager, Claire Quince, hopes the eagerness of staff to welcome volunteers is matched by the community response to advertised roles.

“We are encouraging people from all walks of life to join us as Healthcare Helpers. We hope this new volunteer community will reflect the diversity found within broader communities and help ensure our staff are supported when responding to the needs of patients and their loved ones,” Ms Quince said.

More information on the Healthcare Helpers program can be found on the NNSWLHD website.

Volunteer enquiries can be directed to Claire Quince via email: nnswlhd-volunteer@health.nsw.gov.au or phone 0459 953 520.