Modbury Hospital

Our Palliative Care Volunteers provide comfort, companionship, and practical support to patients living with life-limiting illness and to the families who love them. Working alongside our dedicated healthcare team, volunteers help create a warm, peaceful, and welcoming environment where every person is treated with dignity, compassion, and respect.
If you have a caring heart and a desire to make a genuine difference, this is a truly rewarding opportunity to give back to your community.

Some of the most meaningful moments in life happen when someone simply chooses to be present.

This is more than volunteering—it's about helping people make the most of every moment.

As a volunteer, you'll:

• Bring comfort and companionship to people when they need it most.

• Support families during an emotionally significant time.

• Help create a calm, welcoming environment that focuses on dignity, choice, and quality of life.

• Be part of a compassionate multidisciplinary team dedicated to holistic care.

• Gain valuable experience, confidence, and skills in person-centred support.

• Form meaningful connections while making a lasting difference to patients, families, and the wider community.

Often, it's the smallest acts of kindness that are remembered the longest.

Every day is different, but every interaction matters.

You may:

💙 Spend time with patients through conversation, quiet companionship, reading, games, puzzles, music, or simply sitting alongside someone who doesn't wish to be alone.

☕ Offer refreshments to patients and visitors, assist with meal set-up, prepare toast, and help create a welcoming family environment.

🌸 Care for flowers, plants, and shared spaces to create a calm and comforting atmosphere.

🎨 Support wellbeing activities by helping prepare spaces and equipment for art therapy, massage therapy, music, and other complementary therapies that enhance comfort and quality of life.

🎁 Help make special moments possible by assisting with birthdays, holiday celebrations, family gatherings, and the ward's beautiful Quilt Program, where patients are invited to choose a handcrafted quilt to keep as a lasting gift.

🐾 Help facilitate meaningful experiences by supporting pet visits and the Visiting Dog Program, allowing patients to enjoy the comfort of animal companionship where appropriate.

🚶 Escort suitable patients to outdoor areas with staff approval, helping them enjoy fresh air and a change of scenery.

📋 Assist staff with practical tasks such as preparing admission packs, restocking supplies, maintaining patient and family areas, caring for activity resources, supporting patient feedback surveys, and helping keep the ward welcoming and organised.

Your kindness allows our clinical staff to focus on medical care while ensuring every patient receives the emotional support and personal attention they deserve.

No previous palliative care experience is required—we'll provide comprehensive training and ongoing support.

We're looking for volunteers who are:

• Compassionate, patient, and emotionally mature.

• Comfortable supporting people from diverse backgrounds with dignity and respect.

• Excellent listeners who value meaningful human connection.

• Calm, reliable, and adaptable.

• Respectful of privacy, confidentiality, and professional boundaries.

• Able to work independently and collaboratively within a caring team.

If you believe kindness can make a difference, you'll make an invaluable volunteer.

All volunteers receive comprehensive orientation, ongoing education, and specialised support to prepare them for volunteering in a palliative care environment.

You'll be welcomed into a compassionate team that values your contribution and supports you every step of the way.

In palliative care, volunteering isn't about having all the answers.

It's about offering a smile when someone needs reassurance.

A listening ear when words are hard to find.

A quiet presence when silence brings comfort.

A helping hand that allows families to focus on what matters most—being together.

Your time, compassion, and generosity can help create moments of comfort, dignity, and connection that patients and families will always remember.

Join our Palliative Care Volunteer team and help make every moment matter.

Shifts:

• Monday to Sunday 
• Morning 7.30am to 11.30am
• Afternoon 11.30am to 3.30pm
• Late afternoon - 3.30pm to 7.30pm

***Applicants must be aged 18 years or older.

BARE BELOW THE ELBOWS 
All staff (both clinical and non-clinical), students, volunteers and contractors having 
contact with the patient and/or the patient’s environment must be bare below the 
elbows, including the following:
• Hand and wrist jewellery (including wrist watches and fitness bands) are not to 
be worn in the clinical area, with the exception of a medical alert bracelet 
and/or a single, plain, non-porous ring. 
• Long sleeved clothing is not recommended, but if worn needs to be rolled up 
above the elbow so as not to interfere with hand hygiene practice.
• Nails are to be short, clean and unvarnished. 
• Artificial nails are not to be worn 
Please note:
* As each organisation provides different levels/types of insurance, volunteers are reminded to check with the organisation as to the type of insurance provided for volunteers (e.g. Voluntary Workers Personal Accident Insurance).
* Best practice volunteer involvement recommends that a volunteer role should not be more than 15-16 hours per week.