This community/home based volunteer program is for patients referred to Palliative Care at The Sydney Children's Hospital Network at either Randwick or Westmead.

A volunteer is matched with a family who have a child with a life limiting illness. You will visit the family weekly in their home and get to know your family. Matching is done carefully to meet family needs and match personality and qualities of the volunteers as well as geographically. Some travel is however required.

The assistance that you can provide may be playing with the well siblings of the patient to give them much needed attention, reading or playing with the patient, providing a listening ear and company to a mum or carer, be an extra pair of hands on outings or medical appointments or light practical housework at home. This may vary each week.

This is a chance to make such a meaningful difference to these families who are often quite isolated. This role is good for those looking for a long term commitment.

Sydney Children's Hospital have developed “Covid Volunteer Home Visiting Guidelines” that provides information and advice for safe visiting. Each day of the visit, both volunteer and family are Covid screened and temperatures of anyone at home is sent and recorded as well as the temperature of the volunteer. Visits will not go ahead if anyone is unwell. Volunteers sign in and out of their home visits via text messages. A hygiene kit with masks, gloves, sanitiser is provided to all volunteers.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to interact with children
• Monthly meetings to talk to other volunteers with families
• Reimbursement for mileage/tolls for travelling expenses
• Dedicated Volunteer Co-ordinator available for support
• Initial training on Paediatric Palliative Care and volunteering
• Ongoing education
• Life wisdom gained by working with extraordinary children and families