Seymour Health marked National Volunteers Week with a morning tea.
Seymour Health consumer and staff engagement co-ordinator Sue Jobling said the volunteers had a lovely morning catching up with everyone on Thursday, May 23.
“Often, (volunteers) don’t volunteer in the same areas,” she said.
“There were a couple of volunteers that have been here for a long time that I hadn’t met, so everyone gets to have a chat and got to meet each other.
Ms Jobling said the morning tea gave the volunteers a chance to put faces to names.
“They were all really welcoming to each other,” she said.
“It just went really well. They really appreciate it.
“I’ve had some emails this morning thanking me for a lovely morning and saying how much they appreciated it.”
Seymour Health currently has 17 volunteers across aged care, community reference committee and palliative care.
Seymour Health chief executive Ward Street said National Volunteers Weeks was a really important time of the year for the hospital.
“We really value our volunteers here at Seymour Health,” he said.
“They’re one of the key assets of our organisation.
“They allow us to expand our services and provide really good quality of care and increased access to our consumers that we wouldn't otherwise be able to do.”
Mr Street said as an organisation which deeply valued the work of its volunteers, Seymour Health was proud to honour the vital contributions of the wonderful contributors who enabled it to best support communities across Mitchell Shire and beyond.
Each year, Seymour Health volunteers contribute hundreds of hours of assistance, helping offer quality health services to consumers: it is, as the organisational byline says, caring for our community in action.
“The in-kind hours volunteered translate to improved access and enhanced service delivery, so our consumers are well-supported and welcomed with a friendly smile,” Mr Street said.
“By giving their time, skills and dedication, these amazing individuals are changing lives.
“We had a fantastic week last week where we recognised the volunteers, had a fantastic morning tea.
“It was well attended and I really enjoyed chatting to the volunteers and getting to know them.”
Ms Jobling hopes the volunteers felt appreciated during National Volunteers Week.
“They do amazing, giving their own time,” she said.
“We’d be lost without them.”