It has been a very busy year so far for our volunteers! The last eight months have been filled with opportunities to gain new skills and connect with volunteers that they have not met. In addition to the monthly volunteer meetings that provide information and volunteer involvement opportunities, we have introduced a training calendar that gives volunteers the option to attend any or all of the available activities.
Hand Massage with Megan
Hand Massage with Megan has been very well received with great attendance by our wonderful volunteers interested in learning how to give our clients a relaxing and therapeutic hand massage. We have more of these sessions booked for the next couple of months for those volunteers who have missed out on the previous sessions.
Tharwa Forge Sphere Making Workshops
In April we were fortunate to be invited to the Tharwa Forge to take part in a Sphere Making Workshop. Three of our volunteers and I visited the Forge and were taught how to weld and put together our own beautiful spheres. The staff were so lovely and the venue is absolutely gorgeous! The Forge staff also kindly donated their own sphere to the Palliative Care ACT Gala Dinner for auction.
We are holding two more workshops that have been generously donated to PCACT by Tharwa Valley Forge for our volunteers to attend in the coming months. We will also be sending some of our volunteers to a floristry workshop later in the year, also generously gifted to us by the owners of the Forge and Cupacumbalong.
Volunteer Support Program
The Volunteer Support Program is up and running with four of our senior volunteers participating in training as Mentors to provide an extra level of support for new volunteers and current volunteers who want to learn more and develop their skills.
ACT Volunteer Expo
Ann and Kylie attended the ACT Volunteer Expo in May where they met so many lovely people who were interested in volunteering for PCACT.
Creative Memories Classes & Patient Feeding
Creative Memories Classes and Patient Feeding sessions with Speech Therapist Laura from CHS are both popular training sessions that we have started. ADACAS have also kindly offered their time to come and chat to the volunteers about Elder Abuse and Advocacy which will be commencing very soon.
Clare Holland House
The Tea Trolley has begun at Clare Holland House offering patients and families a cuppa made by our volunteers. The trolley looks great!
Donations are coming in thick and fast of beautifully knitted, crocheted and quilted blankets! The cupboards at Clare Holland House are literally bursting at the seams!
National Palliative Care Week and National Volunteer Week occurred at the same time this year. We had a BBQ at Clare Holland House to celebrate with awards given to our volunteers who have achieved 5, 10, 15 & 20 years of volunteering. Staff of PCACT also hand delivered a little gift to each volunteer to thank them for their service and everything they do for our clients. What a fantastic achievement!
Thank you
It has definitely been a very busy 2024 so far and we don’t intend to stop coming up with new interesting activities as well as old favorites for the volunteers to participate in.
A sincere thank you to our volunteers for everything that you do for Palliative Care ACT. We appreciate you all so much and we know that our clients value the time that you dedicate to making their lives more comfortable.
– Kylie Brands, Manager of Respite and Volunteer Services
