Frequently Asked Questions

Who can become a palliative care volunteer?
Anyone can volunteer, however palliative care volunteering involves dealing with death and dying and so it’s not for everyone. While you do not need formal qualifications or previous experience in palliative care, your volunteering role will require compassion and emotional maturity. For this reason, and because life experiences and life skills are enormously beneficial, palliative care volunteers are generally over the age of 18. Our volunteers come from various backgrounds, however they share a common generosity of spirit and a willingness to help clients and carers living with a terminal illness.

What skills/qualities do I need?
The qualities we look for in palliative care volunteers are:

  • patience
  • flexibility
  • reliability
  • understanding and acceptance of other peoples’ beliefs and values
  • the ability to listen and ‘be present’ with others
  • confidence in visiting independently
  • commonsense and good judgement.

How much time will I have to commit?
Usually you will be assigned to visit only one client at a time. You will be asked to commit to a maximum of three hours per week during business hours on a regular day that is convenient for both you and your client. You will also be asked to commit to visiting your client until the client dies. The length of time required is always unknown, of course, as each client will be at a different stage of illness. Our experienced volunteers tell us, however, that rewarding relationships with clients and carers often develop very quickly, and it is a bonus if those relationships continue for many months – as they sometimes do.

How much training is involved?
Induction training is mandatory before you can join our palliative care team. The training course is free, and conducted once a year – usually in February. Sessions run from 9.30am–3.30pm one day per week for six weeks.

Topics include: 

  • Introduction to palliative care
  • The palliative care volunteer's role
  • Diversity
  • Spirituality
  • Communication skills
  • Responding to loss and grief
  • Basic introduction to illnesses and their symptoms
  • Death and dying
  • Self care of the volunteer

You will not have to sit an exam, but you are required to attend the whole course and to attend a final interview. You must also pass a Police Check and a Working with Children Check before we can place you with a client. As training represents a significant investment on both your part and ours, we ask that you commit to volunteering with us for a minimum of 12 months. We also ask that you continue to build your skills and enhance your ‘on the job’ learning by attending approximately seven ongoing training sessions conducted (during business hours) throughout the year.

How will I be matched to a client?
Before assigning a volunteer, our Coordinator of Volunteers (COV) always visits the client’s home to assess the circumstances and requirements of each client and their carers. Location, availability and shared interests are all considered before you are approached to discuss your possible placement with a particular client. The choice is yours – you do not have to accept every placement offered. As a new volunteer, you will be accompanied on your first visit by your COV. You will also be mentored by an experienced volunteer for the first three visits. 

What is required of me when I accept a placement?
As a visiting volunteer you are required to:

  • Be willing and able to visit your client once a week for up to three hours during business hours for the purposes of companionship and support for the client and their carers.
  • Maintain your visits until the client enters a hospital/hospice or dies.
  • Respect the rights of clients including confidentiality, privacy and dignity.
  • Exercise a duty of care at all times, using commonsense and adhering to Melbourne Citymission procedures in any activities undertaken with the client or carers.
  • Provide a monthly record of the dates of client visits/contacts.
  • Participate in regular supervision and debriefing.