News

The Centre for Volunteering has started a new research project to better understand the health volunteering landscape. In collaboration with the NSW Department of Communities and Justice they have begun a series of forums for people in this sector across Sydney and Western NSW.

This research seeks to understand the structural needs of organisations working in health volunteering and focus on what is required to make these roles sustainable including what motivates people to volunteer and the barriers that make volunteering difficult. Volunteers were invited to share what motivates them, what challenges they face, and the impact volunteering has had on the people they support. Organisations had an opportunity to focus on the practical aspects affecting the sector discussing the key issues of recruitment, retention, and the current volunteering climate.

Making sure palliative care volunteering had representation, Janeane Harlum District Palliative Care & Service Development Manager, Paul Hayes Palliative Care Volunteer, and Hiten Narula, Northern Palliative Care Volunteer Manager from South Western Sydney Local Health District attended the session recently held in Parramatta.

“Not only was this a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on health volunteering, it was great to connect with other volunteering organisations active in greater western Sydney like Western Sydney LHD, Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, and the Pink Sari Project,” said Janeane.

The findings from these groups will be published in a report by The Centre for Volunteering which aims to ensure that the role of health volunteers is better understood. This evidence will be used to advocate for better resources and stronger connections across the health volunteering community and will help organisations address challenges and improve how they support their teams.

Main photo (L-R): Janeane Harlum District Palliative Care & Service Development Manager; Paul Hayes Palliative Care Volunteer, and Hiten Narula Volunteer Manager – Northern Palliative Care, South Western Sydney Local Health District.