News

Paul Hayes is one of four palliative care volunteers recognised for outstanding achievement this National Volunteer and National Palliative Care Week.

Paul completed the formal palliative care volunteer training with South Western Sydney’s Palliative Care Service in March 2023 as part of the first cohort onboarded following the service’s suspension during COVID.

Eagerly embracing the role of palliative care volunteering, Paul has admirably supported three community clients, and displays a steadfast commitment to assisting palliative care patients under the consult team at Bankstown and Liverpool Hospitals.

Paul actively contributed to promoting palliative care awareness during the 2024 Advance Care Planning Week and always demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to their role.

Noteworthy for their excellent communication skills, Paul consistently provides timely and positive feedback, maintaining professional boundaries while delivering respectful support and care.

Paul was kind enough to tell us a a bit about their volunteering.

Please tell us about your volunteer role and the activities you engage in at your service.
Visiting patients in the community, assisting with promoting palliative care in the community. Completed formal training in March 2023. Also committed to supporting palliative care patients in Bankstown Hospital.

What prompted you to volunteer in palliative care?
It felt the right thing to do palliative care volunteer and I felt confident with the support I would get from the team and my managers from completing the training.

What do you enjoy most about being a palliative care volunteer?
Meeting the patients, the families, other volunteers and having a wonderful palliative care team.

Please tell us about a time you had a particularly inspiring volunteering experience.
I was visiting a client in the community and found common ground about birds. The client got perked up and an interesting conversation followed on from there on. Finding something to spark a conversation was particularly inspiring to me.

Please share some words of wisdom for fellow volunteers.
Enjoy what you are doing. Communication is key and make use of the support we have from the palliative care team and our immediate managers. Be patient.

What would you say to someone who might be thinking about becoming a palliative care volunteer?
Enrol in the next training course. Meet the team, communicate with the volunteer manager/s because you are an integral part of the big team.

Congratulations on your well-earned award, Paul. We certainly appreciate your hard work and compassion.