Healthcare jobs boom
ALICIA NALLY
JOSHUA DAVIES
A VOLUNTEER army is preparing to go above and beyond to support Innisfail’s elderly and quarantined residents with the coronavirus pandemic officially hitting Far North Queensland.
Doom and gloom surrounding the outbreak of COVID-19 has been met with panicked shoppers hoarding essential supplies over the fortnight – but as the commonsense tide begins to shift, so does the re-emergence of the classic Australian spirit.
Innisfail Meals on Wheels manager Rita Russo posted a call to arms this week on Facebook advertising her group’s willingness to shop for the elderly, disabled and quarantined in Innisfail and surrounding suburbs.
Ms Russo said Meals on Wheels would be able to pick up shopping lists and return items direct to homes thanks to their group of selfless volunteers.
“We know how many elderly people can’t get out of their homes already,” Ms Russo said.
“So we (Innisfail Meals on Wheels) got together and thought well, there is just so many more out there now who can’t (shop) so let’s get together and try and help some of them by shopping for them.
“We’ve been doing this for our clients for a long time but this is the first time we’ve offered this to the wider community like this.”
Ms Russo said the Meals on Wheels crew were always there for their clients – which was making the social distancing advice of 1.5m a difficult realisation.
“A lot of our clients have nobody else and we help them through testing times,” she said.
For all inquiries contact Rita Russo on 0423 030 244. upcoming temporary and casual job opportunities, applicants must provide evidence of qualifications, registration and/or membership relevant to their profession.
Pre-employment screening may be required.
For more information on all the job openings, go to www.health.qld.gov.au.