BodyLife

Walking alongside those who are grieving

This week is National Volunteer Week and this year’s theme is: Give a little. Change a lot.

Hilda’s House is able to offer important services because of its volunteers, who give their time to those who have lost a loved one, and help children understand and express their feelings of grief.

The efforts of a group of Ipswich volunteers have been honoured with Hilda’s House a finalist in the 2018 Queensland Volunteering Awards for its Bereavement Support program.

The Bereavement Support Services team consists of two paid staff and 10 volunteers, all of whom are qualified counsellors or human services students.

The team provides one to one support and group sessions for adults and children.

Hilda’s House volunteer Carolyn Smith believes one story needs a thousand tellings.

“My life is so much richer for being here. I’ve been here for 21 years and I just love it immensely. It can be very sad of course but also we have lots of happy moments as well. To be able to offer a listening ear, show empathy and really listen to someone’s story,” Mrs Smith said.

“It’s a real strength, not a weakness, to ask for help.

“I think of the people that walk in here, how much courage they have, to walk into a group of other people and be vulnerable.”

Mrs Smith is excited to be part of the group of volunteers who are attending City Hall in Brisbane on Friday.

“I think of Hilda des Arts, who trained me, how proud and humbled she would be to know that after all these years, this is happening. Her dream is realised and we are being recognised for it,” Mrs Smith said.

Hilda’s House team leader Tiina Jukka said the service would not exist without the support of the volunteers that they have had over the past 15 years and the volunteers they currently have.

“The team here is so dedicated and committed. They are a truly inspirational bunch of people who volunteer here at Hilda’s House,” Ms Jukka said.

“Grief is a difficult time and it takes a lot of hard work to get through.

“Our volunteers will sit and listen and guide people through, this helps those grieving feel supported and the burden of grief is lessened.”

Ms Jukka said each and every team member is committed and dedicated to the service they provide, offering kindness, hope and understanding.

“Grieving is such an isolating experience for someone. It’s not something you realise until you have gone through it,” Ms Jukka said.

“We are here to help the whole Ipswich community, not just guests of Ipswich Hospice. If you have lost someone through death, we can help you.”

The volunteers at Hilda’s House provide the tools for people to deal with their emotions and negotiate life’s challenges.

The 2018 Queensland Volunteering Awards Presentation is at 10am – 12pm on Friday, 25 May 2018 at Brisbane City Hall.

It’s also National Palliative Care Week (aka Hospice Week).

The Ipswich Hospice is a seven bed palliative care facility which offers care for the terminally ill and their families.

Ipswich Hospice want to turn Ipswich into a sea of purple.

They are encouraging everyone to wear purple on Friday, 25 May, to raise public consciousness and also to raise money for a much needed Ipswich service.

Hilda des Arts
HILDA’S HOUSE BACKGROUND

Hilda’s House was named for its founder Hilda des Arts. In Germany, Hilda’s career was varied. She began work as an office worker and went on to be a journalist. She attained a Doctorate of Sociology at the University of Hamburg and worked as a social worker.
Hilda had two daughters, Monica and Marion. She was running a hotel in Northern Ireland when Marion died from leukaemia, aged 20, in 1967.
Hilda immigrated to Australia and followed her daughter, Monica, to Ipswich in 1977 when she retired from the workforce.
Here, she worked as a Lifeline telephone counsellor and later became the director of Lifeline.
Due to the tragic loss of her daughter Marion, Hilda developed a passion for palliative care and began counselling work with people who were experiencing grief and loss. She spent the last two decades of her life establishing Ipswich Hospice and a youth service, trauma response service and senior’s internet page.

Current Volunteering Opportunities

Ipswich Hospice and the Ipswich City Council have volunteering roles open if you want to enjoy the many benefits of volunteering.

Ipswich Libraries – Volunteers at the library enhance the experience of library visitors and provide support for projects, programs and events.
Ipswich Libraries’ volunteer program is currently seeking volunteers for two exciting roles:

Library Greeters for the new Springfield Library

Ideal candidates will be friendly and helpful, able to communicate with a wide range of people, and eligible to obtain a Working with Children (Blue card).

Your commitment:
o Three hour shifts
o Participation in training
o Standing for long periods

Volunteer- Market Place Selector (Teenage fiction)

Ideal candidates will have a keen love and knowledge of teenage fiction (13-18 years are welcome to apply), be tech savvy and interested in creating an avatar.

Your commitment:
o Two hours per fortnight approximately
o Contribute to the selection of book titles for Ipswich readers for the Market Place collection.

For more information about these and other volunteer roles contact Library Client Services (Volunteer Coordinator) on 3810 6815 from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, visit Ipswich Libraries website or the Ipswich Libraries Facebook page.
Applications to be received by Friday, 8 June 2018.

Ipswich HospiceKitchen Team are looking for volunteers for both day and evening shifts

Day shift
Hospice is looking for volunteers to work in our busy kitchen during the day. You will help our Cook prepare breakfast, morning tea, lunch and dinner for up to seven guests (patients). Our Kitchen operates seven days a week.
Information for you to consider regarding this role:
• Previous commercial kitchen experience is desirable, but not essential
• Ability to work morning shifts – 8am to 1.30pm
• Confidence to interact with our guests (patients) while serving their breakfast and lunch
• A Police Check is required for this role, which will be arranged and paid for by Hospice
• Full training and buddy-shifts are provided

Evening tea shift
Hospice is looking for volunteers to serve our guests (patients) their pre-prepared evening mail. Our Kitchen operates seven days a week.
Information for you consider regarding this role:
• No previous kitchen experience is necessary – full training is provided
• Main meals have already been prepared, only small finishing touches needed
• Shift times – 4.30pm to 7pm (latest finish)
• Normally a one person shift, so you would need to feel comfortable working on your own
• A Police Check is required for this role, which will be arranged and paid for by Hospice
If you have any further questions please call Donna on 07 3812 0063 or click here.

Craft Group volunteers wanted
Come along and join Hospice’s happy team of crafters, who meet every Thursday morning at Hospice.
Be willing to share your craft skills with the rest of the team and to join in the camaraderie.
If you have any more questions phone Donna on 3812 0063 or click here.

Read about the wonderful people of Ipswich

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