More than a helping hand

HEALTH service provider Bellarine Community Health (BCH) marked National Volunteer Week last week with a celebration of its dedicated volunteer base at the Point Lonsdale Surf Lifesaving Club.

BCH currently has around 80 volunteers who assist the community across a range of programs and services. This includes supporting people to navigate aged care at the BCH Ageing Well Hub, helping clinicians with group exercise programs, driving clients around the Bellarine to activities and volunteering at the Portarlington Op Shop, which raises funds for BCH.

“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.

“Watching the relationships that form between our clients and volunteers is special, and for some of our program areas, we simply couldn’t survive without the support behind the scenes.”

Over the past 12 months, these volunteers have collectively contributed 6,700 hours to supporting BCH’s clients.

Volunteer Tony Desira, who drives the BCH bus for two of the organisation’s social support programs, has alone clocked up more than 340 volunteer hours on the road since last May.

“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,” Mr Desira said.

BCH supports its volunteers with regular group catch-up opportunities, offering the chance to connect with other volunteers, and training sessions, which this year included basic first aid and mental health support for older people.

To volunteer at BCH, email Kai Whyte at [email protected] or phone 0436 024 717.