Celebrating 10 Years of the BaptistCare Pastoral Care Volunteers Program
A decade ago, an idea was formed to support and expand the work BaptistCare chaplains do through a team of volunteers.
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25 October 2024
News
| Home Care, Retirement Living, Aged Care Homes, BaptistCare
In 2024, the BaptistCare Pastoral Care Volunteers (PCV) program is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
That’s a decade of committed volunteers providing care and a compassionate presence to our clients in their homes or throughout our residential care homes.
The PCV program was born out of a simple yet powerful realisation.
No matter how hard they tried, BaptistCare chaplains could not be everywhere they needed to be all at once, and they needed trained individuals to support their work with clients and residents who required regular visits.
This led to the creation of a training program to equip volunteers with the skills needed to provide pastoral care.
A part of this includes ‘buddy’ visits with their BaptistCare chaplain to ensure they have the guidance and support to succeed for themselves and their clients.
For volunteers like Jenny, the call to service is why she was not only one of the first volunteers with this program but has stayed with BaptistCare as a volunteer for 10 years.
“To me, this role is such a privilege,” she said.
“These dear folk are letting me into their lives and that comes with a certain amount of vulnerability. So, when they allow me to come into their lives and they share their stories with me, it is really special.”
These connections lie at the heart of the BaptistCare Pastoral Care Volunteer program.
Volunteers provide, alongside the work of BaptistCare care staff and clinical teams, social, emotional, and spiritual support for clients and residents who might otherwise experience isolation and loneliness.
This holistic and connected approach ensures that our clients receive comprehensive care that addresses all aspects of their well-being.
“I can be a listening ear or a supportive presence, which is great, but sometimes I might also talk with someone about their care options and point them to the right people in their care team for them to talk to,” volunteer Jenny said.
“We can really talk about anything when we meet which is a joy of the job.”
“A number of the ladies I work with have told me how much they look forward to my visits, and that’s really special,” she said.
As she reflects on her ten years with the BaptistCare PCV program and its continued growth, Jenny shows no signs of stepping away.
“I see it as a ministry that God has allowed me,” she said.
“The privilege to be a part of it and to do this work will continue to do so as long as He allows it.”
As we celebrate this milestone, we cannot thank enough the volunteers who have dedicated their time and compassion to the BaptistCare Pastoral Care Volunteer program and our chaplains who have guided them on their way.
If you would like to volunteer with the Pastoral Care Volunteers program, or for any volunteer role with BaptistCare, please look at current need and vacancies on our website.