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
How to apply
- 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)