Volunteering
What Does Volunteering Involve and How Does it Work?
The Hawkevale Trust seeks volunteers to visit people with developmental disabilities. Volunteers are mostly needed in the Perth metropolitan area, however there is an increasing need for visitors in regional Western Australia, as well.
What does a Volunteer do?
Volunteer visitors monitor the needs of Hawkevale Trust's clients, including their health, social activities, accommodation, finances, personal hygiene and overall lifestyle.
Volunteers visit Hawkevale Trust clients every two months to provide them with support and advocate clients' needs on their behalf.
After each visit, a simple checklist is completed by the visitor and returned to the office.
The checklist enables the Board of Directors and staff to complete the Personal Support Service process and guarantee clients are receiving the support they each need.
To help you help us, we reimburse you $20 per visit, for any out of pocket expenses.
Who can volunteer?
To be a volunteer, you need to have a general interest in the needs and aspirations of people with developmental disabilities. If you are a positive person who is responsible, committed and reliable, and you respect client confidentiality, and are tactful and sensitive to clients' needs, then we would really appreciate your assistance.
The time commitment is once every two months for part of a morning or afternoon. This time is arranged to suit both the volunteer and client.
What training will you receive?
Given the very important job you will be undertaking, you will be given full training and information specific to the client you are visiting. You will receive a full orientation on who the Hawkevale Trust is and the services we offer, as well as full ongoing support.
Quotes from Hawkevale Trust volunteers in 2006
"Volunteering helps keep me in touch with the world."
"I do it to help improve their quality of life."
"It's just so great to see how disabled people benefit from having a visitor."
"I visit people who crave familiarity… a familiar, happy face gives them some security."
"I enjoy helping other people - especially those less fortunate."
