It’s National Volunteer week and we are incredibly fortunate to have an extraordinary family of more than 450 volunteers, who generously choose to gift their time and talents to help our hospitals every week. Huge aroha and thanks to them all! This week we’d love to introduce a few of them.
Hineamoa joined our volunteer family in November 2018 and can be found helping across many different areas of Wellington Hospital. After experiencing some difficult health challenges she was keen to get back to some form of work, telling us, “As I got stronger and my health improved I wanted to build my self-confidence and connect with people. I felt becoming a volunteer was a great opportunity to take this step to resume a type of mahi / work experience.” Normally you’ll find Hineamoa supporting staff, patients and their families in the hospital’s Emergency Department, where her warm smile, friendly ear and calm presence reassures people during what is often a difficult and scary time. Many of these patients arrive in ED unexpectedly, perhaps at night and dressed only in their pyjamas; and they may not have the family support or means to replace clothing which may have been soiled or cut off during emergency treatment. And so, another important role that Hineamoa plays is to help curate and manage the Foundation’s supply of Emergency Clothing for hospital patients in need.
Hineamoa also generously offers more time as a Simulation Suite volunteer. Acting as either a patient or concerned family member, she is part of the team that role-plays standardised scenarios that are a key part of training and professional development programmes for the hospital’s medical staff. Hineamoa explains that she “enjoys working with people and having a support role in teams. Providing educational support and training in communication and practice skills has been a specific working interest of mine. In this respect the varied roles of volunteering for the Foundation within the hospital environment has enhanced my usual working interest.” We are so lucky to have volunteers like Hineamoa, who help many people in our hospitals each week.
He aha te mea nui o te Ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, it is the people, it is the people. Interested in volunteering with us? See here for more details.