VOLUNTEERING at Cairns Hospital looks a little different these days but it’s still happening.
Coordinated by the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation, the volunteer program is in its 23rd year with more than 960 individuals registered to help where they can.
For International Volunteers Week, Foundation CEO Tony Williamson paid tribute to the many volunteers who generously give their time.
“We have 964 volunteers registered with us and of those, almost 90 work here at Cairns Hospital, another 655 are fundraisers, 25 are our craft ladies and the remainder volunteer with outlying hospital Friends groups,” Mr Williamson said.
Volunteer celebrations in May have been postponed due to COVID-19 but there is still a skeleton crew of volunteers hard at work.
“We’ve stood down most of our hospital volunteers who are over 70 or in an at-risk category, but we still have some who are coming in, and we have a couple of new ones,” he said.
One of those is Sarah Lansley-Reid, who works at Skyrail Rainforest Cableway normally, but with time on her hands took up the opportunity to help at the hospital.
“This hospital actually saved my son’s life when he was born so it’s certainly been great to give back in my own little way,” Sarah said.
Even though Sarah has returned part time to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, she is still sparing time for twice weekly shifts at the hospital. “I really enjoy it, everyone’s really nice and friendly and I’m doing my bit to make a difference so I’d encourage anyone with time on their hands to volunteer with the Foundation,” she said.
Up to March this year, hospital volunteers worked 4883 shifts, or 18, 089 hours a year, while fundraising volunteers worked 1123 shifts or 10408 hours a year.
Hospital volunteers perform a variety of roles around the hospital including helping at the information desks, oncology, OPERA, Playscheme, Special Care Nursery, shopping trolley and others.
Mr Williamson said the Foundation contributed $3 million towards improving health outcomes in the region last financial year, which is due in no small part to the work of the volunteers.
“We have about 100 on Cardiac Challenge alone – they drive escort vehicles, prepare meals, help with logistics and administration. So imagine doing an event like that without those volunteers – you just couldn’t do it,” he said.
“Some only do one event, some do every event they can, some only help at the hospital – it doesn’t matter what they do or how much – they are all vital cogs in the Hospital Foundation machine.”
Photo: Sarah Lansley-Reid chats with Foundation CEO Tony Williamson.
