Ever wondered what it's like to be a volunteer in palliative care? PCV sat down with some amazing volunteers from palliative care services across Victoria to discuss the profound impact of their work. Discover their inspiring stories, learn about the vital role they play, and see how you can make a difference. Volunteering in palliative care is more than just giving your time - it's about making a meaningful connection and providing comfort when it matters most.

Click here to see a wonderful video about volunteering

Volunteers bring life and meaning to the Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine Organisation.

Our trained volunteers can offer non-medical social and practical support to others. 

Offering the hand of friendship, this support may include companionship, carers respite, transport, assistance with pets, emotional caring for both the ill person and their carers, listening, chatting, undertaking light errands and simply spending time together. 

Support can continue after the death of a loved one with one of our trained volunteers offering bereavement support.

In addition, one of our trained volunteers is a journalist. She is available to document life memoirs for people receiving our service.

Becoming a Volunteer

To become a volunteer with the Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine no previous experience is required, however it is important you feel open to meeting and being with people, in a non-judgemental manner.

Volunteers are required to:

1.   Participate in an interview conducted with one or two Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine Committee members or current volunteers.

2.   Undergo volunteer training, based on Palliative Care Victoria’s training program.

3.   Undergo both a Police and Working with Children Check.

4.   Be fully vaccinated again COVID 19.

5.   Be willing to give on average 1 to 2 hours per week to volunteering.

6.   Be prepared to communicate with the Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine Volunteer Coordinator and maintain basic statistics in regard the hours spend volunteering.

7.   Be willing to participate in volunteer meetings and ongoing education.

About Volunteer Training

Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine conduct volunteer training programs regularly. They are run locally on the Bellarine by experienced health professionals and educators. Training takes ten hours and consists of four morning education sessions.

Training for new Volunteers - new dates will be announced soon

To register please email adm.chob@gmail.com

Please contact us for more information - 0499 775 275

During the volunteer training you can expect to learn about

1.   The Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine organisation.

2.   Palliative care and the illnesses of people you may be supporting

3.   Appropriate communication with people with a life limiting illness and their family members.

4.   The importance of embracing the diversity of all people.

5.   Grief and bereavement.

6.   Support available and how you are matched to an ill person and their family.

7.   What to do if you don’t know what to do! We understand that people may at time strike situations in which they are unsure of what to do.  We explain the supports always available to assisting you in your volunteering role.

Insurance cover whilst Volunteering

Volunteers are insured for public liability and personal accident and death while undertaking authorised duties for and on behalf of Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine.

Our volunteers tell us about their volunteering experience.

Jenny explains:

Having been aware of a number of people living on the Bellarine in the Palliative Care phase of life, I was delighted when Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine was established and I was able to become a Volunteer in December 2019.

In the Volunteer orientation, I was given a notebook in which I record all contacts and visits including anything I have learned. The Volunteer Handbook provides lots of good advice and contact information. The Volunteer Coordinator is integral as mentor and the person to talk with from time to time to share information and concerns and to discuss ongoing activities

My first experience which was with a lady whose husband was in hospital with terminal cancer. Until COVID 19 restricted her from visiting, I was able to take her for short visits to hospital. Sadly, he has now died but I keep in touch with her through another voluntary organisation and feel privileged that I have helped her negotiate life without him.

Another experience was with a younger lady living alone and with an aggressive cancer. She moved to the Bellarine with the knowledge of her diagnosis and prognosis. We talked often, walked along the foreshore when she was able, went shopping together and I was able to take her to medical appointments.

With both people we experienced a range of emotions; we laughed, smiled, were quiet, shared information and cried.                                                                 

Some of the other Volunteers:

Assisted a dying man who wrote his work-life story which he wanted typed into a booklet. He was delighted with this support.

Regularly walked the beloved dog of a woman who was unable to do so.  She also made arrangements for the dog when its owner dies, which has been an enormous relief to the owner.

Regularly visited a man who had been a truckdriver for most of his life. After some time the volunteer wrote a song about the man’s truck-driving stories and recorded it for him. Such was his delight that the man picked up the phone for first time in many months to thank his friend.

Visit the home of a very ill old lady, who sleeps most of the time, while her carer can attend water aerobics.