Every day, Nova Scotia Health volunteers make someone's day brighter 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 also to provide meaningful support to patients, clients, residents, 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 approximately two or three hours per week, on a regularly scheduled 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.
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.
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:
Music heals - and nowhere is this more apparent than in our Music Volunteer programs. The goals of the Music Volunteer programs range from encouraging patients and their families, participating in recreational and leisure activities, and providing calming music interludes amidst what can be a stressful time. In these programs, volunteers with musical experience also have an opportunity to provide musical entertainment and/or sing for patients and their families. If you have a musical talent that you would like to share in a meaningful way, this role may be for you.
Palliative Care is a special kind of health care for individuals and families who are living with a terminal illness that may be at an advanced stage. The goal of palliative care is to provide comfort and dignity for the person living with advanced illness, as well as the best quality of life for both this person and his or her family. Our Palliative Care volunteers enhance the quality of life for patients and their families and work as members of a multi-disciplinary team. They contribute actively to the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual welfare of our patients and families. If you are interested in a role where you can contribute in a meaningful way for someone who is in the end-of-life stage, then this may be for you.
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
