Our Volunteers
We proudly coordinate a team of over 120 dedicated volunteers who help us achieve our goal of providing the extras that make a difference.
Our ‘Vollies’ guide, drive, cuddle, nurture our Hospital and above all lend a caring ear and a friendly face to those in need. The time donated by our Vollies frees up the time of Hospital staff leaving them to focus on lifesaving healthcare.
Below are the volunteer services which our volunteers currently provide. Our services are continually being expanded and upgraded as additional volunteers and Community Partners come on board!
Front Foyer & the Hub
Our ‘vollies’ meet and greet and guide with pride. From the moment visitors to Townsville Hospital enter the front foyer, our trusty team are on hand to give directions, offer advice and help those less mobile get to where they want to go.
The Hub operates as the Hospital’s information centre, anything you want to know and anywhere you want to go our vollies are there to lend a helping hand.
Oncology & Cancer Clinics
These busy areas look after patients undergoing some of the most intensive medical treatment around and visitors to these clinics have some very special needs.
To help out, our Clinic Crew keep the refreshments flowing, offer companionship to those in need and act as a friendly face to patients and their families during what can be a emotionally challenging and often physically draining time.
Womens & Childrens Clinic
These clinics service a range of paediatric and well-woman needs. The waiting area is often packed full of Mums and little ones waiting patiently to attend specialists’ appointments. During the busiest times, our Clinic Crew take some of the pressure off Mums by reading and playing with the children, helping to keep smiles on faces while they wait.
Trolley Vollies
The Foundation provides a full snack and magazine trolley service to all areas of the hospital. The role of the trolley volley is to make sure snacks and magazines are delivered with a smile to the bedside.
Beauty Therapy
Beauty Therapy is a term given to the practice of helping you to look and feel great, encouraging total wellbeing and relaxation. The health benefits of relaxation are well known which is why we have a wonderful onsite Beauty Therapist to offer relaxing 5 minute massages.
Childrens Ward
Our Childrens Ward volunteers are extra special. Volunteering in the Childrens Ward is not as easy going as you may think. Our volunteers help in many ways from providing entertainment such as craft or reading to meal and play time supervision. Our Childrens Ward volunteers are highly regarded and have a considerable knowledge of paediatric health and behaviour.
Buggy Drivers
We operate a Courtesy Buggy service to all patients, staff and visitors of The Townsville Hospital. We have a team of 3 golf buggies, for the sole purpose of transportation. Currently, on any given shift, 2 buggies are operational. Our drivers are required to collect patients from various areas around The Townsville Hospital Campus and drop them to where they need to go. This service is particularly valuable to residents of Red Cross House and Leukaemia House who are constantly travelling to and from the Hospital.
Emergency Department
Emergency Department volunteers assist nursing staff in guiding visitors through emergency, providing a tea & coffee service to admitted patients, entertaining children and liaising with our Buggy Drivers to ensure patients and visitors are transported to and from the Car Park safely.
Neonatal Special Care Nursery
Many infants in the Neonatal Special Care Nursery are seperated from their caregivers for a number of reasons. Neonates require positive human contact (such as cuddling) to achieve and maintain normal growth and development. Time constraints regularly prevent nursing staff from cuddling the neonates as often and/or for as long as required. Our Neonatal volunteers provide this positive contact through cuddling, singing and or reading to the neonates.
