Bellarine Community Health (BCH) is celebrating its volunteers during National Volunteer Week.
Whether it’s driving clients around the Bellarine to activities or for shopping, assisting clients in their social support groups, helping clinicians with group exercise programs, or the many other tasks our volunteers help with, they are an invaluable part of the BCH team.
“Our volunteers are often the first friendly face our clients see, and they provide a warm smile, wonderful interaction and meaningful conversation that is cherished by the people they support,” BCH volunteer coordinator Kai Whyte said.
BCH currently has around 80 volunteers and collectively over the past 12 months they have contributed almost 6700 hours of work either supporting programs and services, volunteering in the Portarlington Op Shop which raises funds for BCH or volunteering in the BCH Ageing Well Hub which supports people to navigate aged care services.
Tony Desira drives the BCH buses for the Social Support and Going Places programs and has clocked up more than 340 hours behind the wheel in the past 12 months.
“I enjoy the company, talking to the clients and staff, getting out and about, and just getting out of the house and enjoying the company of other people,” he said.
BCH runs regular volunteer group catchups to give the volunteers a chance to meet up and connect with other volunteers and a series of training sessions which this year has included basic first aid and mental health for older people.
Contact Kai Whyte at kai.whyte@bch.org.au or 0436-024 718 if you are interested in volunteering.
