General News
18 May, 2023
SWH volunteers appreciated
SOUTH West Healthcare (SWH) showed its appreciation to volunteers at a morning tea this week as part of National Volunteer Week.
SOUTH West Healthcare (SWH) showed its appreciation to volunteers at a morning tea this week as part of National Volunteer Week.
Volunteers met at the Red Robin Café in Camperdown on Wednesday to enjoy a morning tea together.
SWH co-ordinator of volunteers Julie Evans said there was around 250 volunteers across the five SWH campuses, who give their time to improve the lives of vulnerable members of the community.
“This is a celebration with some of our Camperdown volunteers who are from our Friends and Relatives of Merindah Lodge (FROM),” she said.
“We also have a couple of ladies who are activity volunteers in Merindah Lodge and volunteers from the David Newman Centre.
“They help community groups bring the people together, along with the many brilliant and varied programs they have on a daily basis from bus excursions and in-house communal groups who organise lunches to bring people together and provide a welfare check of people in our community.
“We also have other volunteers such as musicians who play music at Merindah Lodge.”
Ms Evans said it was “perfect” to be able to show appreciation to volunteers for their selfless dedication to others.
“They’re amazing people to be so willing to give,” she said.
“It’s quite a tight community and I think you find that with small communities, where everyone knows everyone.
“Camperdown is a very caring community.”
SWH acting campus manager Janine Dureau-Finn said volunteers were the lifeblood of the community who made an “amazing” impact.
“We’re so excited to be able to welcome volunteers back now that COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted,” she said.
“It makes it easier to have people back in our community; they’re so important, especially in our aged care community in Camperdown because a lot of older residents don’t have people who are able to visit them all the time.
“It’s really good to have volunteers who can come and help us with our outings, and just the day-to-day activities in our facility as well.
Ms Dureau-Finn said not only did volunteers make a positive impact on the lives of those they assist, but the act of volunteering has its own positive benefits.
“A lot of research has shown people who volunteer have far healthier lives so it’s important to encourage people who wish to volunteer,” she said.
“We’ve happy to have people help assist us because we know it will give them longevity and better health outcomes.”
Anyone interested in volunteering was invited to contact their local South West Healthcare campus to find out more.