Work experience, volunteer and community engagement programs
Volunteers are a valued part of the Western Health community. By giving their time and enthusiasm, they help create a safe, friendly and supportive environment for our patients, visitors and staff.
We offer both adult volunteer roles and a limited number of placements for secondary school students at selected campuses.
Volunteering at Western Health
We welcome volunteers across our hospitals and aged care sites. Volunteers provide non-clinical support that makes a real difference to the experience of patients and visitors.
Volunteers work in each of our four acute hospitals: Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital, and Bacchus Marsh Hospital.
Volunteer roles include:
- greeting and guiding visitors
- assisting with patient transport
- working with the Volunteer Meal Assistance Program
- providing social support
- assisting at opportunity shops
- providing administrative assistance
- offering companionship to aged care residents.
Volunteers do not provide medical or personal care.
Our values
Western Health is committed to providing the following for all volunteers:
- a safe and healthy environment
- training, induction and support to help you perform your role
- access to policies and procedures which affect you
- management of your personal information in accordance with the principles of the Privacy Act 1988.
- a role that uses your strengths, skills and capacities
- celebration of your part in our successes as a team.
To maintain our warm and vibrant culture, we expect our volunteers to be:
- committed and passionate about working alongside staff to provide the best quality care to patients and families
- flexible and open to learning
- positive with a solution-focused mindset
- inclusive of diversity and accessibility of fellow volunteers, staff, patients and visitors
- respectful of boundaries
- calm and kind.
Volunteer eligibility
All volunteers recruited by Western Health are subject to the following:
- National Police Check
- Working with Children Check
- reference check
- commitment to 12 months of volunteering on a weekly or fortnightly roster, shifts ranging 3-5 hours
- mandatory annual training
- agreement to follow all Western Health policies and procedures.
How to apply to be a volunteer
- Browse ‘Volunteering Opportunities at Western Health’.
- When you see an opportunity which interests you, click ‘Fill in an application’.
- Once your application is submitted, someone from the Volunteer Management team will be in contact to discuss.
Related resources
- Volunteer Application Form (MyImpactPage - Western Health (betterimpact.com)