Volunteer News

Congratulations to:

Natalie Khoury, Ninette Manassa who donated their time and hairdressing skills and Denise Bye for 5 years’ service.

And congratulations to the following for volunteering with the Chaplaincy service:

• Glenn McLachlan and Renato Ritorto for 10 years
• Pat Eisenhauer for 15 years
• Margaret Castoff for 20 years 
• Robert Hamblion and Peter McInerny for 25 years

Well done and thank you!
 

Natalie, Pat and Margaret receiving their badge and certificate from Angela Karooz, General Manager and Susan Borg, Volunteer and Chaplaincy Service Manager.

2022 A Year in Review

National Volunteer Week 16th to 22nd May

The staff of St George hospital are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our dedicated volunteers. Teaming with our volunteers ensures we continue to delivery quality services to our patients and make a lasting impact on our community. We celebrated with providing a small gift of appreciation.

Our awards went Virtual!

Due to COVID restrictions our award ceremony was broadcast live through Microsoft teams with Keynote speaker Dr Heidi Boss giving a review of our COVID Response and a photo story “Year in Review” by the District Media Team!

Lauren Sturgess A/Director of Nursing and Midwifery spoke of the importance of wellbeing and our General Manager Paul Darcy giving the Opening address.
 

THANK YOU | Volunteers at St George Hospital were recognised recently for their outstanding commitment to our hospital and community. Fourteen volunteers were acknowledged for their service, spanning from 5 years to 35 years. Paul Darcy, General Manager St George Hospital, thanked the volunteers for their integral role in patient care and welcomed them back to the hospital, now that COVID-19 restrictions have eased. John Romanous (pictured with Paul Darcy), who received an award for 35 years of volunteering within the chaplaincy service at the hospital, said he felt very grateful that he has the opportunity to serve others as a volunteer.

The SESLHD Healthcare awards recognise innovation and excellence in the delivery of health programs and services within SESLHD. This year they have been simplified and streamlined for a COVID safe approach.

We are excited to announce that one of our own has been awarded with the ‘Special Mention’ award for her outstanding service to the patients, their families and visitors to the hospital with her ward support and the wayfinding program.

Prior to suspension of the Volunteer Program, because of COVID 19, Mrs Eva Maakaroun demonstrated a high level of empathy whilst providing patient support and provided an exceptional; and unique service for all visitors to the hospital.

Eva was quick to return after the first wave of COVID but unfortunately was very disappointed when the 2nd wave resulted in the Volunteer Service being suspended for a 2nd time.

Eva is pictured here with Mr Paul Darcy, General Manager of St George Hospital and Mr Tobi Wilson, Chief Executive Officer for SESLHD.
Congratulations Mrs Eva Maakaroun.

In appreciation to our dedicated volunteers during National Volunteers Week 18-24th May 2020 we wanted to show our volunteers how much they are missed!

Jenny Ye from Infection Control.

The Nurses from Maternity.

The Nursing staff from our Aged Care Precinct.

The front desk ladies missing their 'Wayfinding' volunteers.

The Pelvic Floor and Bladder Unit staff showing their volunteers how much they are missed.

Efy Demertzis misses all the help from the volunteers assigned to Women's and Children's Health.
 

The Medical Library staff showing their appreciation to all their volunteers.

Building works at the St George Hospital Cancer Care Centre commenced this week, resulting in closure of the existing front entrance.

Volunteers from the Cancer Council were on hand to help with directions to the alternative access point, which is via the main hospital entrance (Gray Street) and along the corridor. Clear way finding signage has also been put in place.

St George Hospital has recently expanded to include Dog Therapy, in partnership with PAWS Pet Therapy.

Every Wednesday, specially trained Labrador Roxy visits the Aged Care Precinct Ward to provide company, smiles and memories of patients’ own pets.

2018 SESLHD Improvement and Innovation Awards - Wayfinding Volunteers

The Wayfinding volunteers at St George Hospital were announced as winners of the Volunteer of the Year category at the recently held awards ceremony.   

Ninette was nominated in the 'Adult Category' for providing patient companionship and using her own initiative in bringing joy and making a real difference to inpatient care by offering up her free time with patient hair cuts to our longer term patients.  

Making patients smile

Patient Eileen Harlow has been in St George Hospital for 9 weeks and was delighted to have volunteer hairdresser Ninette Manassa drop by to cut and style her hair.  Ms Manassa and her daughter Natalie Khoury visit the Aged Care Ward one day each week to cut and style patients’ hair.  “We average around 5 style cuts each week.  It’s so rewarding to see people feel good about themselves – the smile on their face is priceless,” Ms Manassa said.   

St George Hospital sincerely thanks its volunteers who give freely of their time to provide services to our staff, patients and their families!

Winner of the Engaging with Consumers, Carers and the Community award, Michelle Davidson (Volunteers Manager)

Volunteers were acknowledged and honoured at an appreciation ceremony morning tea in the St George Hospital Research and Education Centre on Thursday 5 October, 2017. 

Leisa Rathborne, General Manager, St George Hospital, personally thanked the volunteers for their tremendous efforts in providing valuable support to patients, families and staff.

“St George Hospital is fortunate to have the support of 140 volunteers who assist in many ways,” Leisa said.

“This is an opportunity to recognise our volunteers and to reflect on how lucky we are to have them. 

“Our volunteers work alongside staff or behind the scenes providing immeasurable contributions.  They provide service, support and good cheer to patients, visitors and staff.”

In recognition of their outstanding contribution, 11 volunteers, who had a combined total of 191 years of voluntary service were presented with awards.

Eileen Ellsmore announced as a finalist for the senior category.  Eileen commenced volunteering at St George Hospital in 1979 and assists the staff members within the Emergency Department.

The St George Hospital Wayfinding team has won the award for NSW Volunteer Team of the Year for the South Sydney Region.  

The Wayfinding program is a new initiative that was only introduced at St George Hospital in February 2017. The program complements transition to work activities assisting young adults living with a disability to gain valuable real life work experience and skills.  

Volunteers Joshua, Ethan, Jake, Huw and Harrison, joined the program to assist the many patients, carers and visitors needing help to navigate the hospital, particularly due to the current redevelopment and expansion works. 

Speaking about the awards, Gemma Rygate, CEO of the Centre for Volunteering said: “Volunteering is a mutual gift, delivering rewards to both the giver and the receiver. Volunteering contributes $290 billion to Australia’s economic and social good. This year there has been a record number of nominations for the Volunteer of the Year Awards, with almost 110,000 volunteers recognised across all categories.”

Eileen Ellsmore, another valuable volunteer at St George Hospital, was a finalist in the category of Senior Volunteer of the Year. The team are now entered into the final of the Volunteer of the Year 2017 to be announced at a gala event in December.

2017 Volunteer of the Year Douglas Park with Gerry Marr (SESLHD Chief Executive)

St George Volunteer Wayfinders at the 2017 Community Open Day

The volunteers assisted with more than 1000 community members, staff and their families touring the new St George Hospital Acute Services Building on Saturday 14 October 2017.

St George Hospital recently welcomed three young adult volunteers, Ethan, Jake and Joshua (pictured), who joined the volunteer service to assist the community and the hospitals redevelopment way-finding requirements.

The volunteers are recent school leavers with a mild intellectual disability, who are volunteering at St George Hospital as part of a transition to work program. The program teaches the participants life skills for future paid employment.

St George Hospital welcomes these young adults, and looks forward to supporting them through a positive and welcoming environment.

The way-finding program is seeking further volunteer assistance from interested community members and any enquiries can be sent onto SESLHD-STG-Volunteers@health.nsw.gov.au

Volunteer of the Year Jan Dennis with Gerry Marr (SESLHD Chief Executive)