Mansfield District Hospital

Auxiliaries, Volunteers & Fundraising

Auxiliaries

Mansfield Hospital has three auxiliary committees who fundraise for the hospital, each committee elects its executive at an Annual General Meeting:

• Hospital Auxiliary
• Bindaree Ladies Auxiliary
• Bonnie Doon Auxiliary

 

Volunteers

What do Volunteers do?
Volunteers assist with resident outings and activities or take a one-on-one role to become a ‘special friend' to a resident who may not have any family living close by. Volunteers work under the supervision and direction of Activity or Direct Care staff and are encouraged to make suggestions for the introduction of new activities. An activity might be a simple as taking a resident out for a walk, or helping with a group activity, or even going along on an outing to help with a picnic.

How do I become a Volunteer?
There are two types of Volunteers - the first is through the ‘Community Visitors Scheme' and the second is through our ‘local scheme'.

The Community Visitors Scheme is organised through their Regional Coordinator. Community volunteers are ‘matched' with an individual who does not usually have family or friends living in the area. The visitor may take the resident on individual outings or just drop in for a chat on a regular basis.

Local Volunteers are those who apply directly to Buckland House, Bindaree or the High Country Angels Pastoral care service for volunteer work. These volunteers usually prefer to be involved in group activities.

All Volunteers are expected to complete a volunteer's registration form, sign a confidentiality agreement, become familiar with certain organisational policies and procedures, and undergo a police check.

Who do I contact to become a Volunteer?
Those wishing to join the Community Volunteers Scheme should contact the Regional Coordinator at ‘The Centre' in Wangaratta.

People interested in joining our local volunteer group should contact Reception at Mansfield District Hospital on 5775 8800 during business hours.

For information about volunteering contact 5775 8800 for a Volunteer Application Form to be sent to you.

 

Who are the High Country Angels?

The High Country Angels pastoral care service provide "Angel" volunteers to visit patients & residents at the Mansfield District Hospital, Nursing Home and Hostel.

Their role is to support and complement the work of hospital staff by providing support to patients and residents through friendship and encouragement.  The Angels help relieve the anxiety of hospitalisation, the loneliness and boardom or to simply listen and share patient concerns.

However, the High Country Angels spread their wings much wider: they bring love, laughter and friendship to their many roles: cheerfully feeding patients in the Nursing Home; accompanying dementia patients of the hostel to music sessions and encouraging them to join in.  The volunteers bring in pets to cheer depressed residents so that "life is worthwhile after all".  They take wheelchair patients to visit a friend or attend an outside appointment or relieve boredom for a longterm patient with regular cardgame sessions.

They even become tourguides accompanying and helping patients on bus outings or conducting weekly reading circles.

These Angels help heal and inspire; they are true guardians and friends to the patients and residents of the Mansfield District Hospital.