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Children, Youth and Women's Health Service (CYWHS) has a long history of valuing and supporting voluntary effort within the organisation, and acknowledges the very significant contributions made by volunteers, both past and present. Children, Youth and Women's Health Service believes that involving volunteers in the provision of its community-based services greatly enhances the relevance of its services available to the community, and enables the organisation to offer a valuable support service to families, which complements existing services.

Children, Youth and Women's Health Service recognises the importance of engaging volunteers in a well-structured and maintained 'Volunteer Program', and the mutual benefits involved in providing community members with the opportunity to participate in its activities.

CYWHS volunteers provided 7499 hours in the 2005/2006 financial year to support families. This included over 950 home visits and over 2500 hospital contacts for new parents.

There are two types of volunteers in CYWHS - the General Volunteer and the Contact Centre Services volunteer (this includes the Parent Helpline and Youth Healthline). All CYWHS Volunteers complete a comprehensive training course and are supported in their roles by CYWHS staff. Volunteers have an offender history check and sign a confidentiality agreement prior to commencing in their role.

The general volunteer role with children and families

Hospital visiting

Volunteers visit parents in some maternity hospitals to:

promote CYWHS services
provide information about local CYWHS centres and support groups and the Parent Helpline
explain CYWHS's Universal Home Visiting program.

Participating hospitals at present are:

Women's and Children's Hospital
Modbury Hosptial
Lyell McEwin Hospital
North Eastern Community Hospital
Some country hospitals.

Role description
Hospital Volunteer
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Assisting at Child Health Centres and Torrens House

These roles involve activities such as:

welcoming parents and children
assisting parents to access health information from resources available
supervising children and assisting parents to weigh their babies
assisting staff with parenting groups
supporting families who attend for Family and Baby (FAB) services

Role descriptions:
Child Health Centre Volunteer
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Torrens House Volunteer
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Creche Volunteer
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Day Service Volunteer
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Home Visiting

Volunteers help parents needing support in their own homes due to:

geographical isolation
illness or disability in parent
illness or disability in child
lack of extended family/social supports
emotional support
lack of practical support
multiple children under five years
multiple births.

Role description
Home Visiting Volunteer
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Volunteers for Friends Branch

Friends of Child and Youth Health Inc. is the voluntary parenting network of CYWHS which has over 3,000 members across the state. These volunteers provide support to Friends Branches in welcoming and introducing new parents, promoting the objectives of Friends, assisting in setting and locking up for each branch meeting and making appropriate referrals. It is anticipated that role is a short term role whilst the Friends branch is being established.

Role description
Friends Volunteer Role
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General volunteer training programs

Training programs are held throughout the year at both metropolitan and country venues and will be advertised accordingly. Click on the following to view an example of a general volunteer training program.

Example
General volunteer training outline
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Information sessions on Volunteer Roles available through CYWHS for working with children and families

The Volunteer Information Sessions aim to provide potential volunteers with information about CYWHS services and the variety of volunteers roles that we offer in relation to working with children and their families.

Calling Volunteers for our Whyalla regiojn

An information session to be held:

Families SA, Whyalla Office
26 August, 27 August, 9 September, 10 September
9.30am – 3.00pm
163 Nicolson Ave, Whyalla

For more information contact the Manager, Volunteer and Friends Program, see 'contact details' below.

Contact Centre Services volunteer role:
includes Parent Helpline and Youth Healthline

The Contact Centre Service is a 24 hour, 7 day a week telephone service that includes:

the Parent Helpline for parents and children regarding child and adolescent health, development and parenting issues from birth to 25 years and
the Youth Healthline for young people 12-25 years on any issue relating to their health and well being.

The Volunteer is responsible to the Manager, Contact Centre Services, and is supported by the Contact Centre Services team. The role involves responding to callers, and in partnership, helping them to manage their situations according to Volunteer Guidelines eg. information regarding services, listening and exploring problems and referring on as needed.

Role description
Contact Centre Services
Download (PDF - 34Kb)

Contact Centre Services training program

In 2009 training for Contact Centre Services will be incorporated with the general volunteer training program. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer please email the Regional Manager, Volunteer Services, and include the following:

Personal Detail
- name
- address
- contact telephone numbers
- email address.
Reason for applying.
Experience working with children/young people and parents.
Previous volunteer experience (if any).
Ability to work in a busy and demanding workplace.
Ability to use the internet, Outlook and MS Word
Ability to commit to 4 hours a fortnight volunteering, for a minimum of 2 years.

Email to: rae.plush@cywhs.sa.gov.au

Close of applications: Ongoing
(You should receive a confirmation email once you have sent your application through, if not please contact Rae on 8303 1583.)

If seeking to volunteer in the contact Centre Services and on completion of the general volunteer program, volunteers will be linked to undertake observation and supported shifts at the Contact Centre Service.

Additional training is required to work as a volunteer in the Contact Centre Services and while this is occurring volunteers will be offered a general volunteer role.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Regional Manager, Volunteer Services if you have any questions or queries.

Thank you for your interest.

All volunteers are required to:

be able to give approximately 4 hours per week
commit to a minimum of 12 months with our Volunteer programs
respect client confidentiality
work within the Volunteer role description
attend staff development activities as appropriate
agree to an Offender History Check
successfully complete a full training course.

Volunteering - the benefits to you

an extensive training course, learning new skills and building on the life experiences that you bring
friendship, support and ongoing training
experience in the workplace and the health system
public liability insurance
inclusion in team activities including decision making, information sharing, meetings and celebrations
ongoing opportunity for you to contribute to your community.

Volunteer Service (community based) Newsletter

Download PDF document Newsletter May 2010 (PDF document - 907kb)

Contact details

For further information about CYWHS Volunteers contact Rae Plush, Regional Manager, Volunteer Service, Community Engagement.

Telephone:	(08) 8303 1583
Fax:	(08) 8161 7405
Email:	rae.plush@cywhs.sa.gov.au
Address:	72 King William Street Ground Fl, Samuel Way Building North Adelaide SA 5006