Special celebration for 60 volunteers

Grampians Community Health is using National Volunteer Week to celebrate the efforts of 60 volunteers who contribute more than 5000 hours a year to the health service.

Chief executive Greg Little said Grampians Community Health would join other agencies to thank volunteers at a Stawell Powerhouse celebration tomorrow.

“This is a chance for Grampians Community Health to thank all our valued volunteers who have helped us support people during the past 33 years,” he said.

“Volunteers have helped many people and given those people a variety of opportunities to feel better and be part of our community.

“Some volunteers have been with Grampians Community Health for as long as 20 years.”

Grampians Community Health volunteer co-ordinator Geraldine Monaghan said the role was rewarding.

“The last training I ran was exciting. I trained 15 volunteers in Horsham to work with the youth groups at our youth centre ‘Nexus’ to assist with Freeza events and other exciting youth fun,” she said.

“This expansion of volunteers to support youth is a great opportunity to be connected with young people.”

Grampians Community Health volunteers provide help in many ways. They drive people to appointments via a Community Car, run weekly exercise Active for Life programs and visit isolated elderly people through a DO Care visiting service and others with a National Disability Insurance Scheme plan who are socially isolated.

They also help aged and disability clients to access the community through a Talk Listen Care program and support and participate in youth events.

Volunteers also help young people from the LGBTI+ community and provide help to the community in times of emergencies via social support and recovery services.

The organisation’s Rainbow committee chair Gemma Beavis said some volunteers offered to be part of a Juno Vesta group and would help a co-ordinator with transport needs, mentoring and activities such as arts and crafts, music, discussions and help with planning community events and involvement in advocacy projects.

“The Juno Vesta group was established to help young LGBTI+ people in the Grampians feel included and supported in their community and to provide the opportunity to make new friends,” she said.

“It is so important to have members of the community involved in these committees.

“We are grateful to have volunteers helping us.”

Mr Little said during times of emergencies or natural disaster, the volunteers of Grampians Community Health and other agencies played a critical role in supporting the community.

“The Grampians Community Health trained network of volunteers assist with staffing relief centres that support people who have been affected by emergencies such as flooding and bushfires,” he said.

Mr Little said Grampians Community Health was always on the lookout to recruit and welcomed additional volunteers.

He said the organisation provided training and supported volunteers in areas that suited their skills and interests across Ararat, Stawell and Horsham.

Anyone keen to volunteer at Grampians Community Health can call 5358 7400.

“Volunteers have helped many people and given those people a variety of opportunities to feel better and be part of our community” – Greg Little