EPC provides free, in-home support to people in Melbourne's east who are getting on with living after a diagnosis of terminal or life-limiting illness, which can significantly restrict their ability to access their regular social supports, their job, hobbies, etc. And that's where our volunteers come in.

EPC volunteers tell us they love their roles and get real meaning and purpose from visiting, chatting with and just 'being present' with people in community palliative care across Melbourne's east. They bring normality and a piece of the community in to the homes of people who might be a bit isolated, or just want to think about something other than health for a while.

Research shows that talking about the past has real clinical benefits for people living with a terminal illness.

Since 2006 EPC has published over 1,100 end of life biographies. It is Australia’s largest volunteer-based palliative care biography program and receives local, national and international interest due to its successful outcomes. Volunteers work one on one with clients in their own place of residence, allowing them to tell their story.

So if you have some skills with typing and can edit using Word software, are retired or have free time on weekdays (no after hours or weekends) and lots of compassion, live in Melbourne's eastern to outer-eastern suburbs, and want a volunteer role with a difference, we would love to speak with you.

We offer a lot of support, training, mentoring, networking and ongoing support and have great relationships with all of our 230+ volunteers - who are a vibrant, gorgeous group of people with big hearts and an ability to just be themselves with the people they visit.

Spending time with people facing end of life can be challenging...but it is also intensely rewarding.

EPC has far higher than average volunteer retention and satisfaction rates (according to a recent independently conducted survey of 71 similar organisations) and have won awards for our Biography and Community Team volunteer programs. Here's what our current volunteers have to say about our training program:

"This volunteer training rates as one of the best I have attended. A sensitive subject facilitated with easy to understand information allowing for open discussion, reflection and laughter. The co-ordinators showed genuine interest in each of us and were supportive throughout. Thankyou."

We have a public information session in Mitcham at 10am on Wednesday 11 September 2019 - please call us to register on 1300 130 813.

We look forward to hearing from you!

• Please note that the region we support includes Boroondara, Whitehorse, Knox, Manningham, Monash, Maroondah and Yarra Ranges, and our volunteers visit people living in these areas - so preference is always given to volunteers living in this zone as we don't want people having to travel too far when volunteering with us.

Our volunteers visit during business hours and must be available for our comprehensive training program on Wednesdays in February/March 2020 from 9:30am-3:30pm.

EPC Volunteers - making our community better through everyday acts of kindness.