Recognition for healthy volunteers

TEN volunteers from Ballarat Health Services have each been awarded an Australian Government Certificate of Appreciation for Australian Volunteers.

Ballarat Health Services volunteer and wellbeing leader Lyn Brownbill said she began volunteering at BHS several years ago after hospital staff saved her husband’s life.

“It’s a wonderful place to volunteer, we’re looked after really well and it’s a great team,” she said.

“I work with some patients who need some direction around the hospital, need to move from one spot to another so I walk with them.

“I also take care of our staff and volunteers who might be going through tough times, so I make cards for them and send them off to let them know we care about them.”

Although COVID made in-person volunteering difficult, Ms Brownbill said it was nice to be recognised for not only their work this year, but earlier years as well.

“I’m very humbled by it, I didn’t think that I was doing anything special so I’m very proud to receive the award,” she said.

Attending the ceremony, Federal Member for Ballarat Catherine King presented each volunteer with the certificates on behalf of the Australia Government.

“Volunteers are incredibly important for our whole community, we know that eight million people volunteer across Australia in any given year and Ballarat Health Services have 250 people,” Ms King said.

“This year in particular it’s been really important to recognise our volunteers.

“The fact that these volunteers that we are recognising today have created innovative ways of staying connected with the patients here.”