Bendigo Health’s volunteers are often overlooked despite their crucial role, but in an Australian first, hospital volunteering managers will get key lessons in leadership thanks to a Bendigo initiative.
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A conference spearheaded by manager of volunteering services for Bendigo Health Sharon Walsh and her Barwon counterpart will highlight the crucial role of volunteers in the health system.
Up to 120 delegates will attend on the day from right across the state, and Olympian marathon runner Steve Moneghetti will be sharing his views on living, learning, leading and legacy.
Ms Walsh said the conference, held on Friday in Geelong, would inspire managers to use the skills of their tireless volunteers to their fullest.
“People have the skills, they just needed the confidence,” she said.
“In a way, it’s to put volunteering in the map. Sometimes the volunteers get forgotten in the health services.”
She said she hoped the conference would inspire managers to look beyond the day-to-day tasks and “start looking towards leadership” to unlock their volunteers’ full potential.
“In our health service they help to support patient, residents and visitors, they run activities, show people around, and they prevent a bit of fear for someone going to hospital.”
“Volunteering makes the world go around a bit easier.”
“Aside from that, in volunteering they are keeping themselves healthy and well too.”
She said there had never been a health volunteer conference in Australia and it was the first time the two regional services had partnered together for a project such as this.
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