AUGUST 2017 VOLUNTEERS NEWS ACH | GREENLANE | ST ARSHIP VOLUNTEERS CENTRE FROM THE VOLUNTEER C OORDINATOR: INSIDE THIS ISSUE: FROM THE VC 1 CELEBRATING 2 N A T I O N A L V O L U N T E E R WEEK Most of us will recognise how refreshing a different perspective can be, MESSAGES OF 3 whether it is caused by a break away from work or by visiting a similar or- THANKS ganisation elsewhere. I happen to have enjoyed a few of those ‘breaks’ S T A F F 4 VOLUNTEERING lately and it has left me with some new and renewed views on volunteers EXPERIENCE management and on life/work balance. VC’S TRIP TO 5 - 7 MELBOURNE On pages 5-7 you can read about my experiences visiting Melbourne’s NEWS FROM TE 8 WHETU TAWERA Royal Children’s Hospital and about my participation at the Australian Bet- LORDE’S VISIT 9 RADIO LOLLIPOP ter Impact membership day where I met with other volunteer managers. WELCOME NEW 10 Very inspiring to learn how other organisations (some much larger than RECRUITS ours) in Australia utilise the Better Impact system. As soon as I was back FAREWELL JUDE 10 at the VC, Shubhra checked out all of my notes and made adjustments to E V E L Y N ’ S 11 VOLUNTEERING our system which we proudly presented to you during the National Volun- JOURNEY teer Week in June. THE NEXT ISSUE 12 & DID YOU KNOW As much as I like to be hunting new ideas, I find it equally satisfying to come back to base when I learned that our ways have been an inspiration to others. My unexpected break away from work to care for my mother in The Netherlands has brought home some hard truths regarding spending time Monthly Newsletters‘ input needs to come from with family. It also made me realise how you all of us: Coordinator, volunteers divide your time over many different all volunteers, charge commitments; study, family, volunteering job(s) nurses, security people and paid position(s). It brings such a wealth of and all other key people that work alongside us. different perspectives to the Hospital. Another great benefit of working with volunteers! Your input can be new ideas, shared experiences, Happy reading! good ol’ memories, anything of mutual interest is welcome! VOLUNTEERS NEWS Page 2 CELEBRATING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK took advantage of the opportunity of- fered during National Volunteer Week to write messages of thanks to the volun- teers. You can see some of the messag- es on the adjoining page. Entertainment To celebrate National Volunteer Week, Trevor Anderson (Blue Coat ACH and GCC) provided some entertainment, playing the keyboard during his shift on Afternoon Tea Level 5 at ACH. As part of the National Volunteer Week celebration an afternoon tea was held at the Marion Davis Li- brary on Monday, 19th June. The afternoon tea was an opportunity to show our appreciation to the volunteers for their hard work and time. About 30 volunteers from Companion Volun- teers, Blue Coats ACH and GCC and Te Whetu Tawera attended. It was a rare chance to mingle Brenda Lawson (ACH Blue Coat team leader) showing and chat with volunteers from other teams or Sue Jarvis (Operations Manager, Adult Community & those working different shifts. Long Term Conditions) the ropes At the afternoon tea, Shubhra Shrotriya, our IT Staff Experience Analyst/Admin Volunteer gave a presentation on the recent improvements and adjustments made During the week, some senior managers spent to the Better Impact system. an hour or more working alongside the volun- teers to learn more about the work being done Messages of Thanks by the Blue Coats. One of the senior manager, Judith Catherwood, wrote about her experience Many patients and visitors as well as ADHB staff on page 4. AUGUST 2017 Page 3 MESSAGES OF THANKS VOLUNTEERS NEWS Page 4 A FRIENDLY FACE AT A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY Last week was National Volunteer Week and I a lot in the hour I was had the pleasure of joining our Blue Coat volun- there, so I imagine the teers for an hour to work alongside them and Blue Coats cover a lot see first-hand what they do in our hospital. It of steps every was a truly fascinating and humbling experience day. One of my Blue for me. Coat friends was counting his steps on I was greeted by three of our regular Blue Coat the app on his phone. volunteers, and spent an hour helping them, on the volunteer desk at one of the main entrances Many of the Blue to our hospital. The area was busy and during Coats I spoke to had my hour there I would say there was a new per- been volunteering son asking for help every minute. I was really here for many years. Some used to work here very impressed with the knowledge the Blue and some also volunteer in other places. Most of Coats have of the entire hospital and of the loca- them give at least two half days every week. tions of some of our services. They know how to They give this time freely, and provide a wonder- help people find their way around and help to ful service to our community. give them confidence in where they are going. So my message to our Blue Coats: “you are a Many of the people approaching the Blue Coat marvel and having spent time with you I will con- desk were anxious, concerned or indeed upset tinually be reminded as I pass the volunteer about a loved one. I have to say, sometimes I desk, of the role you play every day in helping struggle to find my way around. But for a patient the many thousands of people who transition who may have had bad news, or a visitor who through our hospital, helping them find their way may have no idea what to expect when they find and making patient and visitor experience just their loved one in one of our wards, this makes that little bit better.” their experience even harder. The Blue Coats not only offer guidance, they listen, and they often Judith walk the person to the place they are looking for. Judith Catherwood They are the welcoming face to our organisation Director and provide comfort and a friendly face at a time Adult Community & Long Term Conditions of uncertainty. Auckland DHB As well as a humbling experience it unexpectedly Posted on Team Talk turned out to be good exercise, I found I walked June 26, 2017 AUGUST 2017 Page 5 IMPRESSIONS FROM MY MELBOURNE TRIP The Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne is huge and about twice the size of our main hospital. It re- ceives a budget from the Victoria government (not a District Health Board) and is partly financed through a separate funding arm (like our A+ Trust) that will fund specific equipment, upgrades or renovation projects. I met with the volunteers’ management team, led by Kiley Kavanagh for the full day on Tues- day, 30th May. I didn't feel like I was lane filled with (children’s toys) shops, cafes entering a hospital and restaurants, a gym and a school. The cen- tre had a low half round reception desk. First Impressions The first shop you’ll see is a candy shop with sugars and ice creams galore; next door is a What I immediately noticed as I entered the Ronald McDonald along with other healthier hospital is that I didn’t feel like I was entering a food restaurants to choose from as well. hospital, but a (not so ‘scary’) shopping mall VOLUNTEERS NEWS Page 6 IMPRESSIONS FROM MY MELBOURNE TRIP ( c o n t ) Most of the RCH volunteers have a ‘companion’ like character and volunteer on the wards. The RCH’s volunteers’ management is slightly different to ours in that both RCH and ACH each have their own historical ways of doing things I be- lieve. Their motto is that initially you have to go Another lane took you to an outpa- through some pretty tough tient area with several clinics that hoops to be accepted by have self check-in computers where RCH as a volunteer/ volunteers assist with check-ins. employee, but once you’re After check-in, the patient and fami- in, the world is your oyster. lies are free to roam all the public Yet, their volunteers who spaces and go about their normal are in close physical con- day activities rather than having to wait in the tact with patients are not waiting rooms for hours on end, because TV screened on immunity (in comparison to some of screens (right throughout the public spaces) our volunteer groups who have to undergo a keep them informed of when their number is blood check here at our lab). coming up. All of the RCH volunteers/employees have to or- ganise their ‘working with children’ clearance at their own cost, separately from a criminal record Partnership with check. I haven’t checked that working with chil- Melbourne Zoo dren’s application yet, but I’m keen to learn about their screening. RCH Volunteers The Hospital has 570 RCH volunteers and partners with about 24 external organisa- tions who have their (approximately 350) people volunteer as well. For instance, their meercat enclosure is a partnership with the Melbourne Zoo who delivers and cares for the animals. The RCH facilitates the space and safety of the enclosure. AUGUST 2017 Page 7 I believe that the ADHB team might be ahead of Hurray for our RCH in utilising the system with a future vision in Blue Coats! mind such as dealing with a changing volunteers population, and being able to change past ways of working into new ones to suit new goals.