Volunteer

Within Auckland DHB, we have well over 400 volunteers working in fixed volunteer positions across Auckland City Hospital, Starship, Te Whetu Tawera and Greenlane Clinical Centre. They generously give their time, skills and energy to our patients and their families: from our Blue Coat Ambassadors who meet and greet patients and visitors, to our Hospital Grandparents and Companion Volunteers who work one-on-one with patients and provide caring support. Our volunteers are critically important to our DHB and to the people we serve.

The Volunteer Centre run by our volunteers management team offers you on the job training and ongoing support, as well as a car park and food voucher for each shift. In some volunteering roles you may also get the chance to hear from experienced health professionals regarding various topics related to Volunteering roles. If you're interested in joining our team of dedicated volunteers please chose from one of our available volunteer positions . Before applying for one of our positions, please check our  frequently asked questions.

There are also a number of externally run volunteer services which are listed here .

Corporate Volunteering: Please note that we are not able to offer short-term, single day volunteering for groups or individuals.

Auckland DHB volunteer positions

• Administration volunteer (no vacancies)
• Administration Volunteer: writer for monthly newsletter (no vacancies)
• Blue Coats Ambassador Services Auckland City Hospital  Apply now
  
• Blue Coats Ambassador Services Greenlane Clinical Centre (no vacancies)
• Companion Volunteers (no vacancies)
• Starship Family Support Volunteers (no vacancies)
• Starship Hospital Grandparents (no vacancies)
  
• Starship Information Desk (no vacancies)
  
• Starship Play and Recreation Department - (no vacancies)
• Starship Toy LibraryStarship Toy Library  (no vacancies)
  
• Starship School assistant volunteersStarship School assistant volunteers -  Apply now
• Starship Pet programmeStarship Pet programme - (no vacancies)
  
• Auckland City Mental Health Unit - Te Whetu Tawera - Musicians**

For further information please contactLindy Lely by email.

**To apply for the musicians posting at Te Whetu Tawera please contact Julie Hagan at jhagan@adhb.govt.nz or ring on 021 270 2114 mobile.

Volunteer position descriptions

Administration volunteers

From time-to-time, administration volunteers are required to support a staff member or to work in the Volunteer Centre. This role is supportive and requires a helpful and practical attitude. The desired skills are:

• General office skills (filing, photocopying, data entry, taking phone messages and responding to emails).
• Competence with computers.
• Keeping brochures and booklets updated.
• Special projects.

Shift information: Flexible, to suit your lifestyle

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Administration Volunteer: Writer for monthly newsletter 

This role is to assist the volunteer manager in putting the monthly Auckland DHB volunteers' newsletters together. This newsletter has a large readership within Auckland DHB and therefore we are looking for a person with creative writing skills and experience with page design. 

Shift information: Flexible to suit your lifestyle. 

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Blue Coats Ambassador Service for Auckland City Hospital 

Can you relate to coming into the hospital, not knowing where to go to see a loved one or how to get to an appointment? Become a beloved Blue Coat and help make a difference to how we meet and greet visitors and patients at Auckland City Hospital. If your warm smile and lifetime experience to customer service and people skills are second to none, become part of our team! We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the site. We aim to have a strong, committed team.

Auckland City Hospital Shift times are:

Monday to Friday        

• 09:00am - 12.30pm                                                                          
• 12:30pm - 04:00pm                                                                      
• 04:00pm - 07:30pm                        

Saturday                    

• 11:00am - 02:30pm          

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Blue Coats Ambassador Service for Greenlane Clinical Centre

Can you relate to coming into the hospital, not knowing how to get to an appointment? Become a beloved Blue Coat and help make a difference to how we meet and greet visitors and patients. At Greelane Clinical Centre which is a day-clinic, you will be mostly dealing with day-stay patients and their families. If your warm smile and lifetime experience to customer service and people skills are second to none, become part of our team! We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the site. We aim to have a strong, committed team.

Greenlane Clinical Centre Shift times are:

Monday to Friday

• 08:00am - 12:00pm 
• 12:00pm - 04:00pm      

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Starship Information Desk

This volunteer service provides non-medical assistance to patients, parents, other relatives and visitors to the hospital. Their role is to meet and greet patients/families on arrival and to offer assistance to get them to clinics, wards and other facilities as required.  Often people coming into the hospital are under stress and need reassurance and helpful assistance.

These volunteers come in for a minimum of two shifts per week, however some volunteers prefer to do several shifts each week and these are welcomed. We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the site. We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the site. We aim to have a strong, committed team.

Shift times are:

Monday to Friday

• 10:00 - 01:00pm
• 01:00 - 04:00pm

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Companion Volunteers 

Are you looking to brighten someone’s day? Join our friendly team of Companion Volunteers working with patients from older people’s health and all ages rehabilitation wards at Auckland City Hospital.

You’ll have the opportunity to engage with patients, in group settings and one-on-one, through a wide variety of activities including: playing games, arts and crafts, conversations, meal times, reading or speech practice. You’ll be making a real difference to our patients’ experience.

We’ll offer you training, ongoing support and a car park- and food voucher after each shift. You’ll also get the chance to hear from experienced health professionals about topics like speech therapy and dementia.

If you are 18 years or over, have amazing communication and interpersonal skills, then we would love to hear from you! You’ll need to be able to commit to a minimum period of 6 months, for at least one shift a week.

Shift times are:

Monday to Saturday

• 10:30am - 01:30pm

Monday to Friday (evenings)

• 4:00pm - 7:00pm

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Starship Family support volunteers

These volunteers provide support, orientation and companionship for parents and caregivers, particularly those from other geographical areas and DHBs. By referral, volunteers are available to spend time with families who are experiencing additional stress, such as waiting for their child to have an operation. Family support volunteers should be confident, friendly and outgoing; have a helpful and willing approach to people; be sensitive and caring and have a good general knowledge of the area and public transport system. We ask that you commit to one shift per week for a minimum period of 12 months, due to the time it takes to get through the recuitment screening and your probation time.

Shift times are:

Monday to Friday

• 10am – 12pm + flexible options

Musicians (Vacancies Available) - The Auckland City Mental Health Unit - Te Whetu Tawera

Do you play guitar, piano, flute, violin, harp, ukulele or any other musical instrument? The Auckland City Mental Health Unit  - Te Whetu Tawera - is wanting volunteers to come and play for people who are in the Hospital. You don't have to be a professional musician, just someone who plays proficiently and who enjoys sharing their music with others. People who come into the Unit say that the music is calming and helps them to relax. The hours are flexible, you will be very well supported by the Coordinator and a group training session is held before you start. We are located in the Auckland City Hospital grounds - Building 35, next to the Auckland Domain.  Please note that all our Volunteers have to be 18 years old or over. 

If this sounds like something you might like to do, please email Julie Hagan at jhagan@adhb.govt.nz or ring on 021 270 2114 mobile.

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Starship Pet Programme

Pet Therapy Programme volunteers facilitate the visits of especially selected and trained SPCA therapy pets and their pet owners onto the Starship Hospital wards. The role of the Pet Therapy volunteer on Auckland DHB’s side is to team up with the SPCA volunteer and their dog and to guide them to the Starship wards, organise the visits from the children and ensure hand hygiene at all times. We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the role. We aim to have a strong, committed team. Volunteers need to:

• Be comfortable around animals.
• Have previous recent experience with children.
• Be tactful, sensitive, non judgmental and mature.
• Be comfortable in a hospital setting.
• Be organised and confident.
• Be able to deal with stress.

Shift times are:

Wednesday

• 1.15 - 2.45pm

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Starship School assistant volunteers

School assistant volunteers assist qualified teachers in the on-site hospital school, providing one-on-one help to children in the classroom. Suitably trained and vetted volunteers may visit children in their rooms. School volunteers must have recent experience with children. Recent experience in the classroom may be an advantage but is not essential. We are looking for flexible self-starters, who are patient, tactful and non judgemental, can commit time on a regular and ongoing basis and be willing to maintain the cleanliness of equipment as required.

Shift times are:

Monday to Friday

• 10am – 11.45am
• 1.30pm – 2.15pm

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Starship Hospital Grandparents

The Hospital Grandparents are carefully selected volunteers who provide regular caring support, on a one-on-one basis, for children and families. Hospital Grandparents care mainly for children whose families cannot be with them all the time, long-term patients and children from out of town. All contact is on a referral basis.  Grandparents are sometimes required to be with children while they undergo procedures such as x-rays, blood transfusions and chemotherapy. The role of a grandparent can be emotionally demanding but is usually also very rewarding.  We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the role. We aim to have a strong, committed team.  If you can tick the boxes on the criteria below than we love to receive your application.

• Have a good level of experience with children and have a genuine love for them.
• Be patient, tactful, mature, flexible and non judgemental.
• Be able to form good relationships with family and staff.
• Be good listeners.
• Be able to commit to shifts on a regular and ongoing basis.

Shift times are:

Monday to Friday 

• 9.40am–12.00pm

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Starship play and recreation department

Play and recreation volunteers require prior experience with children. They help provide play and recreational activities in ward and outpatient playrooms under the supervision of hospital play therapists. Suitably trained and vetted volunteers may sometimes visit children in their rooms with the charge nurse's permission and play specialist's supervision. We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the role.

Duties may include:

• Play and interaction with children under the supervision of a play specialist.
• Making resources for art activities.
• Cleaning toys and furniture after each play session.
• Checking stock in store rooms.
• Photocopying.

Shift times are:

Monday to Friday 

• Flexible hours between 09:00am and 04:00pm

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Starship Toy Library

Volunteers provide a service delivering toys, games and activities to children in the wards Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.  We ask that you commit to a minimum of one shift per week for one year, as it can take some time to become familiar with the site. We aim to have a strong, committed team. If you can tick the boxes on the following criteria we love to receive your application.

• Have previous recent experience with children.
• Have good organisational skills.
• Be confident, tactful, non judgemental and flexible.
• Be comfortable in a hospital setting.
• Be willing to clean toys and games.
• Be able to commit to at least four hours, one day a week.

Shift times are:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

• 9am - 12noon

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Externally run volunteer positions

Chaplaincy assistants

Our chaplaincy assistants work with our professionally trained chaplains to provide pastoral care and spiritual support of our patients, their family/whānau and hospital staff. Chaplaincy care is offered to all who wish to receive it within our sites. Both the chaplains and chaplaincy assistants are employed by the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy Aotearoa New Zealand (ICH) . Volunteer chaplaincy assistants must be members of good standing with their denominational church or organisation. They are required to participate in a training programme which includes a 20-hour programme held over 10 weeks. This covers a range of knowledge and skills required to begin work in the wards. Chaplaincy assistants work under the supervision of a chaplain. A minimum of two hours a week is asked of our volunteer staff. Ongoing education and professional support are offered regularly to enhance our volunteers' knowledge and skills.

For those considering being a volunteer chaplaincy assistant or those who would like to return to volunteer with our team, please contact our Chaplaincy Coordinator Rev Young Jun You on 021 916 569 or  email.

Cancer Society volunteers

Oncology support

Having cancer treatment can be a challenging experience. To help make it a little easier, the Cancer Society has a team of volunteers working in the Auckland City Hospital Oncology Department. These volunteers complement the support given by hospital staff and help provide a supportive and positive experience for people having cancer treatment and those accompanying them by:

• Welcoming patients and their supporters to the Oncology Centre and helping them find their way around.
• Offering tea, coffee and a friendly chat.
• Providing information about the support offered by the Cancer Society and guiding people to hospital staff for support and information.

Oncology support volunteers, also known as 'Yellow Shirts', receive ongoing training and support from the Cancer Society. They can be identified by their bright yellow t-shirts, Cancer Society lanyard and hospital identity card.

Volunteer drivers

Cancer Society volunteer drivers pick people up from their homes, take them to their cancer treatment and return them home again. For some people cancer treatment can be an ongoing journey - on a daily basis for many weeks, even months. Many people are too unwell to drive themselves or find it difficult to rely on family and friends for such a long period of time. The Cancer Society's Volunteer Driving Service helps relieve stress on patients and their families during what is already a difficult time, and ensures they are able to attend all of their appointments. The volunteer driving office is located in the Radiation Therapy Department at Auckland City Hospital and is home to the Cancer Society's volunteer co-ordinators.

To find out more about becoming a Cancer Society volunteer please call 09 308 0496,  email  or  visit their website .

Friends of the Emergency Department

These volunteers provide comfort, information and non-clinical support to patients and family while they're waiting for or undergoing treatment in the emergency department. The work involves:

• Sitting, listening to and talking with patients or helping them find things like a magazine or telephone.
• Assisting relatives in family whānau rooms.
• Keeping a reassuring eye on patients in the waiting room.
• Assisting with dependent relatives and/or children.
• Helping out with the delivery and serving of meals and cups of tea and making beds.
• Assisting with the general tidiness of public areas.
• Key requirements include excellent communication skills, a compassionate and caring nature, tact and sensitivity, and an appreciation of different cultures and age groups.

If you have what it takes to become a Friend of the Emergency Department, phone St John on 0800 780 780.

Radio Lollipop

Radio Lollipop is an independent international not-for-profit organisation, founded in the UK. It provides play and radio programmes in Starship Hospital five evenings a week. One evening is specifically for adolescents. Volunteers visit the children in the wards with games and activities and occasionally organise theme evenings and special guests. Volunteers must be willing to attend a compulsory information evening for prospective volunteers held twice a year, be mature and reliable, have experience with children and be comfortable around them and be familiar with a hospital environment. For further information please contact Radio Lollipop on 09 377 3997 to leave messages or  email . 

Red Cross

New Zealand Red Cross is part of the world's largest humanitarian network, committed to improving the lives of vulnerable people both at home and internationally. Red Cross volunteers manage a retail shop trolley at Auckland City Hospital to allow patients to purchase basic requirements, personal items and newspapers. These volunteers report to a Red Cross volunteers co-ordinator and operate from the Volunteer Centre. Red Cross volunteers must be mature and sensitive to patients' needs, non judgemental, comfortable handling money, work with a partner, be absolutely trustworthy and be able to commit time on an ongoing basis. For more information, contact Rob High, Service Centre Coordinator on 09 262 0942 or  email . 

Youthtown

Youthtown is a not-for-profit organisation that has been active in New Zealand since 1932. Its purpose is simple – to inspire young people to realise their potential through physical, social and creative experiences. Helping New Zealand's youth to succeed and flourish is what drives the organisation and, as part of their mission, Youthtown runs school holiday art and recreation programmes in the atrium and in the teen lounge at Starship Hospital. It is open to patients, siblings and visitors alike. Volunteers must have experience with children and have a background or interest in art and/or crafts. For further information please contact Sian Neary, Programme Director on 09 379 5430, extension 812.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please note these FAQ's do not apply for the externally run volunteer positions .externally run volunteer positions.

Can I volunteer?

We are proud that our volunteers come from all walks of life, all ages and ethnic and religious backgrounds. We seek volunteers that have a mature and caring attitude. Volunteers who speak languages other than English are appreciated. If you meet our eligibility criteria you are most welcome to send in your application online.

We would love to hear from you if you:

1. are aged 18 years of age or over
2. are able to commit to volunteering at least  one shift per week
3. are able to commit to volunteering for   6 months  or more
4. have no criminal history of violence drug offences, sex offences, or crimes against children, and if you are willing to obtain a Police Check and for some roles a TB and immunity check history through a blood-test.
5. are able to contribute skills and experiences obtained from previous work, or volunteer experience in a similar role, with referees able to attest to this.

How much experience is needed?

While previous volunteer experience is highly regarded, this is by no means a requirement. We encourage a diverse range of applicants and all volunteers receive training as required. No medical knowledge or expertise is required.

What if I don’t meet the criteria?

Most public hospitals within the Auckland area have Volunteer Programs. You could contact the hospital in your area to find out about their opportunities and you could also contact Volunteering Auckland .

Will volunteering help me to get a job at the hospital?

Unfortunately volunteering will not assist you to secure a job at the hospital and we discourage applications from candidates whose motivation is to improve their career prospects. It may of course help you to decide whether a career in health is for you.

Can I choose where I work?

You as the volunteer apply for the role of your choice and after a discussion with the Volunteer Manager during an interview, a role can be assigned to you based on your availability, skills and experience and in keeping with the hospitals priorities.

What shifts are available?

The shifts available vary depending on the role, program, and hospital priorities. However most roles operate within 8:00am and 19:30pm (please see actual shift times with listed roles on the website).

How do I apply?

You can apply to volunteer for any off the roles that display the “apply now” link and complete the online application. We look forward to hearing from you!

What does the application process involve?

• You be asked to attend an interview
• We will ask you to sign a consent form to obtain a National Police Check and  for some roles you may be asked for your consent to undergo a blood check here at the Hospital Lab
• After the interview we will conduct reference checks

 Once I have successfully completed the recruitment screening what is expected of me?

• You can expect an invitation to return to the Volunteer centre for an induction, where we will introduce you to our health & safety regulations, emergency response and some of our do’s and don’ts.
• We will provide you with an Auckland DHB ID badge and for some roles we will provide you with a uniform or shirt, for the duration of your volunteering time with us.
• You will receive training on the job.
• We organise regular team meetings and/or training days and for some roles we have manuals available.
• We expect you to honour your commitment to the role, be punctual, reliable and inform us in a timely manner of any pending absences.
• Work co-operatively with staff and act as part of a team
• Respect patient and family’s privacy, confidentiality and cultural differences
• Adhere to our rules and regulations
• Communicate any hazard and relevant information to the Volunteer Manager
• To have fun and enjoy your role

What about Corporate Volunteering?

Unfortunately we are not able to offer short-term, single day volunteering for groups or individuals. This is because of the time it takes – usually up to 4 weeks - to successfully complete the recruitment and induction process. We do this to safeguard our vulnerable patients.

Can I undertake my high school community service or Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteer requirements?

Due to the minimum age and time commitment required, our volunteer program is not suitable for school community service or Duke of Edinburgh requirements.

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