THE community has got behind the Warrnambool and District Community Hospice with volunteer carers already signing up before the official call for help.
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Hospice president Eric Fairbank said the program’s volunteer vacancies were filled despite the official launch still being months away.
“We already have 40 volunteers who have put their hands up,” Dr Fairbank said. “That’s probably all we can handle at the start because we have to put them through training.”
Dr Fairbank said it was pleasing to see such support for the hospice push, which aims to help people spend their last days in their homes should they choose to.
“A lot of the volunteers have previous nursing training, which is good,” he said.
“People support us because they wish hospice in the home had been around when a member of their family died, or will be around in the future, or because volunteering their abilities for hospice is worthwhile and rewarding.”
Interviews for the role of hospice manager begin next week. A manager is expected to start in the role in mid-May.
Once the hospice manager has settled in, the Palliative Care Victoria-approved training for volunteers will begin.
The community hospice has also reached another milestone, raising half the approximately $500,000 needed to get the program started.
Dr Fairbank said about $250,000 had been raised so far from community fund-raising, local service clubs and philanthropic trusts.
“We’re now in the process of tackling the corporate world,” he said.
Fund-raising efforts will be boosted by a revamped website designed by Tracey Togni, which went live this week.
It provides information and the ability to donate online.
Work is also under way to set up the hospice headquarters, based at Deakin University.
Dr Fairbank said the community hospice was on track to be up and running as early as mid this year.
The free program will tie in with existing health services and all adults in the area will be eligible, regardless of their diagnosis. Care will be offered in the final stages of an illness as long as there is a family carer and symptoms can be managed at home.
Donations can be made at www.wdchospice.org.au, cheques can be sent to PO Box 755, Warrnambool, and direct donations can be made into the hospice account BSB 633-000, account number 144182748.