Volunteers have an important role in the palliative care team. Palliative care volunteers work alongside health professionals in hospices, in aged care facilities, in the home, and in other community settings to provide practical and emotional help to patients, carers and family members. As the concept of ‘volunteering’ might not be known to people from other cultures, the term ‘helping out’ might convey more meaning about the role of volunteers.

Volunteers may contribute a range of skills to the healthcare team, but their greatest strength is in providing help or companionship in very practical ways.

There are established screening and selection processes which can guide a Volunteer Manager in appointing appropriately skilled or motivated volunteers to specific parts of the palliative care program, in the most appropriate setting.

This page was created on 23 May 2008
Last updated 26 May 2008