Celebrating Victoria’s selfless public healthcare volunteers

13 May 2011

Volunteers from hospitals, community health centres and primary care organisations across Victoria were honoured at the 2011 Minister for Health Volunteers Awards earlier this month.

In a ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground the Minister for Health, the Hon. David Davis MP, presented 19 outstanding achievement awards and seven special commendations to individual volunteers and teams held during National Volunteer Week.

Mr Davis said the commitment made by volunteers to the health and wellbeing of the Victorian community was readily seen in the extraordinary work being undertaken by those nominated in the awards.

“There have been a record number of entries this year from health services who are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of their tireless volunteers,” Mr Davis said.

“The people and teams honoured have made a long term commitment, had an outstanding success, and worked above and beyond the call of duty.”

Among the outstanding achievements honoured are:

• Vito Doquile who facilitates ‘The Butterfly’ group at the Salvation Army Bridge Centre, providing life education and support to clients dealing with health and social issues associated with the use of alcohol and other drugs;
• Marjorie Crothers, of South West Health Care Warrnambool, who has been a palliative care volunteer for 20 years;
• Alfred Health’s P.A.R.T.Y volunteer team that gives young people a true-to-life snapshot of life post a major trauma and the impact of risk-taking behaviour;
• The Very Special Kids House Volunteer team that provides children and families with respite and end-of-life care; and,
• The Birches Specialist Extended Care Service volunteers at Western District Health Service who support residents with special behavioural problems associated with dementia from Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease and other mental health issues.

The Volunteer Awards, now in their third year, were established to celebrate and acknowledge volunteering and its significant contribution to public healthcare in Victoria.

The awards received more than 50 individual and 55 team nominations from 68 healthcare organisations covering aged care, public, primary and mental healthcare.