Volunteering with Arohanui Hospice
Volunteers fulfil many important roles at Arohanui Hospice and they are regarded as highly valued members of the hospice team.
Click here to view current volunteer vacancies
There are a variety of roles for volunteers, some working with patients while others work behind the scenes. There are duties during the day, in the evenings, on weekdays and in the weekends.
The type and frequency of volunteer role that someone is assigned to will depend on their interests, their own personal and work commitments and what vacancies are available. We aim to fit in with people’s busy lives as much as possible.
All inpatient unit volunteers must undergo an initial interview and must agree to abide by our confidentiality rules concerning patient information.
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact the volunteer co-ordinator on 06 356 6606.
Volunteer roles at Arohanui Hospice include:
Housekeeping
This involves working at the Hospice from 9am to 11.30am on a weekday or weekend morning, cleaning the patient and public areas of the hospice and serving morning tea to patients.
Laundry
This involves working in the Hospice laundry from 10am to 1pm on a weekday or weekend, doing laundry from the inpatient unit, folding or ironing it and putting it away in our linen cupboards.
Hospice shop
Volunteers work in our Hospice shops, either in Palmerston North or Levin, on morning or afternoon shifts from Monday to Saturday. Volunteers work under the guidance of our shop manager.
Evening duty
Working in the evening involves two hours of work between 4.30 and 7.30pm (start and finish times to suit). One hour is spent in the laundry bringing in and folding washing and one hour in the kitchen, washing dishes from the evening meal and cleaning up in readiness for breakfast the following day.
Reception
On weekdays from 9am to 1pm we have a reception volunteer assisting our secretary/receptionist, greeting visitors, helping to operate our phone system. The volunteer covers the lunch period.
Day stay/Creative living
Volunteers assist our day stay co-ordinators to deliver our day programme in Palmerston North and Levin. This involves working alongside patients on various craft and other activities, and helping to serve morning tea and lunch to day patients. The day stay/creative living programme runs in Palmerston North on Tuesdays and Thursday, and in Levin on Wednesdays.
Biography service
Volunteers can help record and produce a patient’s life story. Training is given.
Flowers
Volunteers bring in flower arrangements (at their own cost) to add colour to our reception area once or twice a year on a roster.
Gardening
Volunteers keep our gardens looking lovely, coming in when it suits them (weekdays or weekends) when the weather is fine. Typically volunteers are assigned a particular “patch” of the hospice grounds, which they take responsibility for.
Fundraising
Volunteers assist our fundraising team to organise events or with administrative and data entry work. Volunteers are also involved with our Farming for Hospice programme.
Administration
Volunteers assist with one-off administration tasks, such as envelope stuffing or preparing education or patient packs, or other administration duties.
Memorial services
Volunteers assist with our quarterly memorial services held for the families of hospice patients who have died in our care.
Anyone interested in becoming a Hospice volunteer should contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator on 06 356 6606 or email volunteer@arohanuihospice.org.nz
