Every day, Nova Scotia Health volunteers make someone's day brighter. Our volunteers support patients, clients and residents in communities across Nova Scotia.
Who are our volunteers?
Nova Scotia Health volunteers are individuals looking for a rewarding opportunity to share not only their time but provide meaningful support to patients, their families and our frontline staff through a variety of roles. Volunteers are a vital link in the important work of Nova Scotia Health.
Why volunteer with us?
Volunteers complement the care provided by professional staff. As a volunteer, you can gain personal satisfaction from helping others, obtain experience relevant to your future employment or educational plans, meet new people and learn more about the health care system.
How much time do I need to commit?
As a general rule, we ask volunteers to commit to two to three hours per week on a regular day for a minimum of four months. The minimum volunteer commitment may be greater than four months depending on the site and the volunteer position of interest to you.
Get to know our volunteers!
Keltie & Maiya (Therapy Dog Team)
Brenda Mackenzie (Patient and Family Advisor)
Our Ambassador volunteers are friendly hosts to patients, families and visitors as they enter Nova Scotia Health facilities. The Ambassador Volunteers help relieve stress for patients and visitors who enter our facilities by providing directions and information about our facilities during their visit. This is a fast-paced program with varying demands requiring volunteers to be on their feet and to walk throughout the buildings. If you love meeting new people and working in a busy environment, then these roles are for you.
Our Cancer Care Volunteers are a friendly face welcoming patients and families as they arrive to the unit for their appointments. They provide support, comfort, assistance, and information to patients, and visitors within our Cancer Care Units. Our Volunteers keep patients and visitors company, while they are waiting for their appointments and during treatment. Our Volunteers may offer comfort items to patients and visitors in the waiting area such as refreshments, warm blankets, tissues, and reading materials. As a volunteer you also help with keeping pamphlets/brochures and reading materials up-to-date. If you have a passion for helping those living with cancer then this role may be for you.
Our Dog Therapy Volunteers bring comfort, joy and a sense of companionship through pet visitation to patients and residents in our facilities. All of our Dog Therapy Volunteers teams are required to be certified through the Saint John's Ambulance Dog Therapy Program. As a Dog Therapy volunteer, you can provide a wonderful break in what can be a stressful time for both our patients and staff alike. If you and your dog are a certified Saint John's Ambulance Dog Therapy team then this role is for you.
Mental Health and Addictions volunteer programs give care and support to people living with mental health disorders and substance/gambling addictions. Our programs include health promotion and prevention, along with general and specialized treatment. Our Mental Health programs include outpatient/community-based programs, home/school-based interventions and inpatient services. Mental Health and Addictions volunteers assist staff with activities for patients to engage in a group or individual setting. They can also support patients on a one-to-one basis, providing mentorship and social interaction. As a Mental Health volunteer, you have an opportunity to positively impact people experiencing mental illness and/or addiction.
The Patient and Family Advisor is a broad role that is fairly generic in concept but provides the patient and family with a voice in making decisions and setting priorities. An advisor is a person who partners with staff by bringing their experience to the decision-making table. Whether it is for a short-term project or an ongoing committee, Patient and Family Advisors play a critical role in the success of the health care system.
Community Health Boards (CHBs) are groups of volunteers from local communities, who work together to improve health and wellness of their communities. They gather ideas from local community members and share information about how to improve and promote health and wellness close to home. They focus on the many factors that affect health and wellness in our communities including income, education, and sense of belonging, among others. CHBs share what they have learned about your health and wellness priorities with Nova Scotia Health, IWK Health Centre, and other pertinent community groups.
You cannot serve on a CHB, if you are:
To find a Community Health Board in your area, please check the following link:
Nova Scotia Health is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and respectful environment for team members (employees, physicians, learners and volunteers), patients, families, and visitors that reflects our Vision, Mission and Values.
Respectful Conduct
All Nova Scotia Health team members, patients, families and visitors are required to:
Our Values:
• Respect • Integrity • Courage • Innovation • Accountability
