Celebrating Our Local Volunteers

Volunteers at the Brighton Wellness Hub say that seeing the resident’s faces light up when they sing, talk and communicate with each other makes every day worthwhile. 

Better Together is the theme of this year’s National Volunteer Week, which runs from 16 to 22 May and is an opportunity to celebrate the contribution of volunteers.

Brighton Wellness Hub Community and Oral Health manager Claire Harrison said the Hub looked forward to the annual celebration, where volunteers are recognised for their important efforts in supporting patients and residents.

“The Brighton Wellness Hub is a space for our community members to access services, activities and information that supports healthy living and ageing,” Claire said.

“Hub activities are led by our valued volunteers. Without them we simply could not provide all these opportunities for our members to be involved. Our volunteers help our members to feel engaged, connected, learn new skills and offer good conversation and social connectedness.”

Marie Ellsworth has been a volunteer at the Brighton Health Campus for more than 30 years. During that time she has been primarily based in Residential Aged Care facilities and more recently at the Hub.

Marie said she loved volunteering each week and seeing both familiar and new faces.

“Everyone is always an absolute joy to be around,” she said.

“The standout over 30 years has been the volunteers, my friends. I have made many friends here and many of them are friends outside of volunteering.”

The Hub recently introduced new volunteer uniforms with artwork that reflects the experience of patients and volunteers.

“Talented artist Elaine Chambers-Hegarty has captured the journey of patients accessing our Community and Oral Health service, including the ups and downs we may experience in our health journey,” Claire said.

The artwork is titled ‘The warmth of our community’ and features details such as a sunset representing the workers bringing warmth to the patients, and footprints, dots and line art that show the walks of one’s journey to better health.

Claire said Community and Oral Health volunteers were motivated to do something worthwhile and to ‘give back’ to their community, while allowing them to feel part of a connected and more caring society.

If you want to give back to the community by becoming a volunteer at the Brighton Wellness Hub email COH-Volunteers@health.qld.gov.au for more information.