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, 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 two to three hours per week on a regular day for a minimum of four months. The minimum volunteer commitment may be greater than 4 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)
The goal of our Recreation programs is to encourage and support residents in long-term care homes and hospital inpatient units to participate in recreation, leisure, and communication-based experiences. Activities could include creative expression, music, relaxation, exercises, games, or conversations. Throughout each shift, volunteers are actively engaged with patients and provide companionship and socialization. In addition, they help with setting up and cleaning up, before and after the activities. These programs give the participants the opportunity to engage in regular mental and physical activities, and to notice the benefits that such activities have on one's health. If you have a passion for healing through Recreation actives, then this may be of interest to you.
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:
Our Therapy Dog volunteers bring comfort, joy and a sense of companionship through pet visitation to patients and residents in our facilities. All Therapy Dog volunteer teams are required to be certified through the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Training Program. As a Therapy Dog volunteer, you can provide a wonderful break in what can be a stressful time for both patients and staff alike. If you and your dog are a certified St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog team, then this role is for you.
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.
At Nova Scotia Health, we offer Special Event opportunities for volunteers to participate in. These are events that may occur infrequently but are still integral to our organization and the Nova Scotian public. These events can range from seasonal activities to annual flu clinics. If you are interested in volunteering in a role beyond our regular programs, then these roles may be right for to you.
Here at Nova Scotia Health we have a number of Volunteer Programs that offer One-to-One support for our patients, residents and their families. From Friendly Visitor programs to Meal Assistance programs, our volunteers offer individual support and social interaction for our patients and residents, by positively impacting patient care and dramatically reducing the workload of our frontline staff. While sitting and having a visit with a patient or resident, playing a game of cards or keeping them company during mealtime, you are providing them a much-needed social connection. If you are interested in volunteering in a role that allows for more of a personalized interaction, then one of these roles 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
