Retirees wanted for volunteer mission to keep peers healthy and out of hospital
Volunteer peer educators are needed in the Illawarra, writes Md Habibullah from the Health Promotion Service for Older People (HPSOP)
The Combined Pensioners & Superannuants Association’s Health Promotion Service is recruiting volunteers from NSW who are aged 60 or over, interested in health issues, and would like to help their local community.
Volunteers will deliver health education sessions to groups of seniors and free Zoom training will be provided.
The Health Promotion Service for Older People (HPSOP) aims to keep people healthy and out of hospital. It has been delivering health education services to older people in NSW, for free, since 1991 and last year more than 5,000 people took part in health education sessions.
However, there are currently no volunteers in the Illawarra.
HPSOP would like to hear from retired professionals, including doctors, nurses and pharmacists, although health sector experience is not essential as free training in a range of interesting health topics is provided.
If you can speak, read and write English and/or another language well, please contact 0404 548 063 or email health@cpsa.org.au for an information pack.
Four volunteers from around the state told us why they like making a difference.
Now in her mid-80s, Vivienne lives on the Central Coast and has been a volunteer peer educator with HPSOP for almost 12 years.
Her professional background is in education and training, and she has found it easy to learn and present about health topics. Vivienne says giving health presentations has not only increased her health literacy but also enabled her to better manage her own chronic illness.
Refresher training every two years has kept her up- to-date with developments and Vivienne says an important benefit of HPSOP is that she has been able to schedule the health presentations to fit in with her social, medical and personal commitments.
She's also enjoyed meeting like-minded retired professionals and recently attended a lunch where peer educators from the Central Coast and the Hunter presented her with a bouquet to celebrate her longevity with HPSOP.
Anne is a retired nurse who was looking for a volunteer gig when she happened upon an article about the Health Promotion Service for Older People.
“I was so thrilled," she says. "It's not necessary to have a medical background to volunteer. In fact I think some of our best volunteers come from unrelated careers.
"What struck me upon meeting some of the senior volunteers is how long they've been doing talks. Many in excess of seven years. I thought this organisation must be well run to keep volunteers so interested, and it is.
"You are given all the required training, you can choose which requests for talks you would like to take up. This works well in retirement as it means if you're off travelling you aren't committed to any regular dates.
"I've really enjoyed talking to so many motivated groups of seniors. Q&A sessions after talks are always interesting and I usually learn something new."
Lynette likes sharing her passion for bushwalking and other activities to encourage older people to stay active
From southern Sydney, Lynette is a retired GP turned volunteer peer educator.
"I do have a background in health and I also believe that a healthy and active lifestyle will serve me well as an older person," Lynette says. "I believe that good health will keep me out of hospital and living independently for as long as possible.
"I like line dancing, bushwalking, cycling, Duolingo for Spanish lessons and keeping up my social life with friends and family. As a volunteer, I wish to share this passion with older people, so that they too can take control of their health and wellbeing and take an active role in maintaining their independent lifestyles.
"I enjoy the education that I receive from the accredited bodies that provide the training. It is very practical and there are always important messages for those listening to the volunteer presentations, including ways in which they can help themselves and links to the tremendous resources available.
"I enjoy meeting the people who want to learn about their health as older persons. The information in the presentations is relevant and important for younger persons too. If an older person can pass this down a generation or two, we can all be healthier!"
John has given hundreds of presentations to his peers through HPSOP
John is a retired registered nurse who joined the initiative more than 10 years ago. "Since then I have given hundreds of presentations both in person and (thanks to Covid) via Zoom," John says. "I have presented to many community groups and met many interesting and enthusiastic people.
"I spent about 40 years nursing people and found this initiative a way of discussing primary health issues in an informal way to decrease the burden of some of the long term issues facing older people.
"I recommend volunteering for people to put their lifelong experience and knowledge into this worthwhile venture."
HPSOP is funded by the Western Sydney Local Health District and auspiced by the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW Inc., to provide free health education sessions to English and multicultural communities. For more information about volunteering, please contact 0404 548 063 or email health@cpsa.org.au
