Royal Darwin Palmerston Hospital Volunteer Program


Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital is supported by volunteers
who work alongside hospital staff to provide
support to patients and their families.

   

   

Who are our volunteers and what do they achieve?

Volunteers are local community members who provide services such as:

  • welcoming visitors and provide directions, assistance and information at hospital reception
  • help visitors with mobility impairments transport between the carpark and hospital
  • provide a positive experience and make the patients’ stay in the hospital more comfortable
  • social interaction and companionship for patients that are isolated from family or friends that may need a friendly face throughout their stay in hospital
  • assist with activities that will help patients, their families or friends pass the time.

Why volunteer with us?

Volunteering at the hospital can be rewarding. As a volunteer you can:

  • build friendships and networks
  • increase your confidence and achieve self-satisfaction
  • enjoy working in a friendly team
  • develop your skills and knowledge
  • be involved in decisions about programs and services
  • feel appreciated by making a difference.

 

Before you become a volunteer

Volunteer opportunities are available at Royal Darwin Hospital and Palmerston Regional Hospital.

To become a volunteer, you will need a current police check and working with children clearance.

You must be able to commit at least 4 hours per fortnight.

How to become a volunteer

Click on the "Fill in an application" Button at the top of the page.

Once you submit your application, it will be reviewed by the Volunteer and Diversity Coordinator.

 

I would like to volunteer

Fill in an application

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Our Volunteering Roles

Visitor Guide

A RDPH volunteer’s role is vital, and to be carried out by an active and positive person who has chosen to give time to assist the consumers of the hospital. The volunteer’s role is to provide practical support to hospital consumers to ensure they have the most positive experience possible.

 

Position objective

To provide practical support and assistance to Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital (RDPH) consumers in navigating the health system.

Duties carried out

 

  • Provide a friendly face to meet and greet consumers at the main entrance/front foyer of the Hospital and provide information and guidance to get them where they need to go
  • Assist visitors to locate family or friends on the Wards
  • Assist our less mobile consumers to access the Buggy Service for external transport (RDH only) or by providing access to and assistance with a wheelchair internally

 

Skills/qualities required

The ideal applicant for this role possesses:

Good communication skills including tact and diplomacy, the ability to interact within a diverse multi-cultural environment, a positive disposition, self-awareness, a strong commitment to customer service, patience, a proactive nature, compassion and empathy, a sense of calm and level-headedness, a good sense of humour, flexibility, maturity/ honesty and at times a degree of physical fitness may be required for this role.

 

Companion

 

Position objective 

To provide practical support and assistance to Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospital (RDPH) consumers and staff by providing companionship to patients who may be lacking social interaction.

 

Duties carried out

  • Provide a friendly face to RDPH consumers that may be isolated from family and/or friends
  • Provide support to patients and/or their families and friends in waiting rooms and clinics etc
  • Provide support to staff and patients in therapy, recreation and social groups
  • Provide distraction to patients through cards, games and crafts
  • Assist in the motivation of patients to get up out of bed and move about

 

Skills/qualities required

The ideal applicant for this role possesses:

Good communication skills with the ability to apply tact and diplomacy, the ability to interact within a diverse multi-cultural environment, a positive disposition, self-awareness, a strong commitment to customer service, patience, a proactive nature, compassion and empathy, a sense of calm and level-headedness, a good sense of humour, flexibility, maturity and honesty

   

 

Buggy Driver (RDH ONLY)

Buggy Service in place at Royal Darwin Hospital helps transporting patients to and from locations around Hospital Campus. The buggy can only be driven within the bounds of the RDH campus, not on public roads. All volunteers/drivers require to hold a valid NT drivers' licence. Also, the instruction on safe operation of the buggy is to be followed.

   

Position objective 

To provide practical support and assistance to Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) consumers. This role is carried out in conjunction with the Visitor Guide role, not as a standalone service. (Also refer to Instructions for Safe use of Campus Buggy)

 

Duties carried out

  • Assist consumers who may require transport to other areas of the hospital campus or the Private Hospital for appointments
  • Assist consumers by proactively monitoring the campus carparks for people with mobility issues who would benefit from the use of the buggy to access the hospitals services
  • Volunteers interested in providing the Buggy Service are required to hold a valid driver's license

 

Skills/qualities required

Good communication skills including tact and diplomacy, the ability to interact within a diverse multi-cultural environment, a positive disposition, self-awareness, a strong commitment to customer service, patience, a proactive nature, compassion and empathy, a sense of calm and level-headedness, a good sense of humour, flexibility, maturity and honesty.

 

Tea and Coffee Trolley Service

 

Position objective

To provide support and service by providing tea, coffee and refreshments to Royal Darwin Hospital consumers in all clinic & emergency waiting areas. (Also refer to tea and coffee trolley for instructions)

Duties carried out 

  • Provide support and friendly service and offer and serve consumers in clinic and emergency waiting areas tea, coffee and refreshments from the trolley

Skills/qualities required

The ideal applicant for this role possesses:

Good communication skills including tact and diplomacy, the ability to interact within a diverse multi-cultural environment, a positive disposition, self-awareness, a strong commitment to customer service, patience, a proactive nature, compassion and empathy, a sense of calm and level-headedness, a good sense of humour, flexibility, maturity/honesty and a degree of physical fitness is also required for this role.

Assist Roles-Donated Clothing Hub, Allied Health Staff with Activities, Events and Stalls

The Donated Clothing Hub provides donated clothing and footwear to patients who do not have access to clean clothing and footwear and would otherwise rely on hospital garments for their stay or for discharge. Having access to clothing will provide patients with dignity, reduce anxiety and meet Top End Health values of safe, responsive, kind.

   

The volunteers may assist with sorting clean clothing on to shelving as requested by Volunteer and Diversity Coordinator if agreeable.

A procedure is available and provides instructions that support the collection, management and provision of donated clothing to vulnerable patients admitted to Royal Darwin Hospital.

 

Assist Allied Health Staff with Activities 

Assist with Events and Stall set ups

   

 

Art Cart

 

 

 

 

 

Position objective

To provide support and therapeutic assistance and help patients by involving them in arts and craft activities mainly in long term wards of the hospital.

 

Duties carried out

  • Provide support and friendly therapeutic assistance and help patients including children and adults by involving them in arts and craft activities in some of the long-term wards across the hospital
  • Support patients by providing arts material, eg, pencil sets, cartridge paper, drawing and painting material, colouring sets and other related material

 

Skills/qualities required

The ideal applicant for this role possesses:

Good communication skills including tact and diplomacy, adhere to high level of infection related protocols, the ability to interact within a diverse multi-cultural environment, a positive disposition, self-awareness, a strong commitment to customer service, patience, a proactive nature, compassion and empathy, a sense of calm and level-headedness, a good sense of humour, flexibility, maturity/honesty and a degree of physical fitness is also required for this role.

Rehabilitation (Rehab ward) and Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM ward) Gardens

Rehabilitation (Rehab ward) and Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM ward) Gardens

RDPH Volunteer Program Mission & Values

Mission Statement

To promote service excellence and increase patient centred care at RDPH by working alongside hospital staff to provide additional support and information to our consumers while they visit the hospital campus.

Our Values

 

Our NT Health values are: Safe, Responsive, Kind.

We want to see everyone demonstrating these values in your work, in your decision-making and interactions with patients, the community, peers and other organisations.

Safe, Responsive and Kind means different things, to different people, in different operating contexts. It also resonates with many of us and helps to connect us together and unite us in how we deliver care.