News

A Task Force working together to advocate for the support, recognition, promotion and development of volunteering in hospice and palliative care is seeking your support for their Volunteer Charter.

The group includes members from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and UK, and involves representatives of the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), the Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) and the International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care (IAHPC).

Dr Ros Scott, a specialist in volunteer research and part of the EAPC team, said “One of the key areas of our work since the Task Force came together in December 2013 has been the development of ‘Voice of Volunteering – a Charter on Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care’. We are delighted that this has been adopted by the EAPC Board and will be launched at the EAPC 15th World Congress in Madrid 18-20 May 2017.”

The group intends that the implementation of this Charter will:

• Promote the successful development of volunteering for the benefit of patients, families and the wider hospice and palliative care community.
• Recognise volunteering as a third resource alongside professional care and family care, with its own identity, position and value.
• Promote research and best practice models in the recruitment, management, support, integration, training and resourcing of volunteers.

Palliative Care NSW have signed in support of the Charter. “We congratulate the Task Force on highlighting the need to support and champion hospice and palliative care volunteering. It’s a timely reminder that volunteering is a key part of good palliative care”, said Executive Officer Linda Hansen.

To read more about the Charter and to add your signature in support please follow this link.