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Hospice Service

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The Highlands Community Hospice Service is a volunteer-based palliative care program offering compassionate care and practical volunteer support to individuals with life-limiting illnesses and conditions, and their caring community.


Operating alongside, and in collaboration with, existing palliative care and other services, the program aims to fill gaps in support, reducing the burden on carers and service providers. Volunteer services are flexible, trauma-informed, and person-centred, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client and their caregivers.


This service will be based in the New England region of NSW, including Armidale, Uralla, Walcha, and Guyra and surrounding areas and commences in May 2025.

Volunteer Applications Closed- First Round 2025

The primary role of a hospice service volunteer is to provide direct support to clients living with a life limiting illness or condition, and their caring community. Volunteers provide care that encompasses emotional, psychological, social and practical support to the client and carers. Generally, this care is provided in the client’s residence.

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While ‘companionship and connection’ is the primary focus, volunteers may also assist with a variety of practical tasks such as with home help, appointments, respite care, legacy projects, and grief and loss support.

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It anticipated that there may be volunteers who may not volunteer as a companion but have specific skill sets and interests such as gardening, pet care or professional support including legal assistance or counselling. While these volunteers would still undergo the full training, they would not be matched 1:1 with a client as a companion, they might volunteer with one client or between multiple clients to provide support in their specialised area.

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Highlands may also have other volunteer roles in the organisation such as help with funding and grant writing, social media, resource development, events management, or be on a committee or sub-committee.

​Dates for 2025

  • 31 January 2025: Highlands Community Hospice Service volunteer applications close

  • 31 January – 9 February 2025: application assessment by Management Committee

  • 10 – 14 February 2025: interviews

  • 17 February 2025: applicants notified of application outcome

  • 3 March 2025: online training commences

  • Face-to-face training workshops will be held in Armidale:

    • 22-23 March 2025 (9am-1pm both days)

    • 5 April 2025 (9am-1pm)

    • 12 April 2025 (9am-1pm)

    • 10 May 2025 (9am-1pm)

  • 12 May 2025: inductions during the week – individual / small group

  • 12 May 2025: the Highlands Community Hospice Service commences

Volunteer Training and Development

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The Highlands Community Hospice Service volunteer training is conducted between March – May each year, commencing in 2025, in Armidale, NSW.

 

The training process includes online learning prior to, and during the volunteer training – approximately 10hrs and volunteer training and approximately 20hr training program based on the NSW Palliative Care Volunteer Training.

 

Facilitated over a number of days, the training which will explore topics such as:

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  • What is Palliative Care?

  • The Volunteer Role

  • Volunteer Procedures

  • Death and Dying

  • Trauma Informed Care

  • Personal Care – Non-Medical Care

  • Grief, Loss, and Bereavement

 

The training program will include a 3hr induction program for all new volunteers, covering organisational and program policies, procedures and guidelines, and the expectations, rights and responsibilities of the volunteer role.

 

Volunteers also attend ongoing training: refresher courses and professional development, including speciality training – for example, Dementia care and biography work.

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Thanks for submitting!

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