Types of volunteering
Supporting Bethanie’s Therapy team, volunteers engage with residents throughout scheduled activities on-site and assist with set-up and logistics. Activities might include assisting on morning walks, running an entertaining bingo session or applying nail polish at a pamper session. Your resident engagement and organisational skills will help these activities run smoothly and with a dose of fun.
A Social Companion volunteer role at Bethanie gives you the opportunity to deeply engage and make lasting connections with residents through regular one-to-one or small group visits. Our team consider your personality and interests to match you with residents who we think you’ll hit it off with. Everyone has a backstory and, whether you’d like to share a yarn or hear one, you can as a Social Companion.
Alongside Bethanie’s Chaplaincy team, volunteers provide individual pastoral and spiritual care, support, and assistance to people of all faiths. Volunteers also support residents’ attendance, and engagement with, on-site Chaplain’s Chats or Church Services.
Whether you tinkle the ivories, pull rabbits out of hats or bust a move on the dance floor, our customers enjoy watching and engaging with volunteers as they put on a show.
Bethanie has a range of vehicles to transport customers to-and-from shopping centres and external recreation activities. Many vehicles can be driven on a regular C-Class licence, whereas other vehicles require an LR-licence or higher. Whatever vehicle you’re able to drive, volunteers help enable our residents to stay connected with their local communities through the Vehicle Driver volunteering role.
Benefits of Volunteering
Through volunteering, you will:
- Have the opportunity to meet new people;
- Learn new skills;
- Share your interests with others; and
- Become part of a vibrant community
Bethanie provides flexible volunteering opportunities:
- Across locations – we have opportunities across many areas of Perth. You should be able to find a position in a location convenient for you.
- Tie in with your availability – whether it be regular activities or on an occasional basis.
FAQ’s
Bethanie volunteers have many varied backgrounds and interests, and come from all walks of life.
Retired people often find they have the time to commit and have a number of experiences and skills to impart, whilst students and younger people may volunteer to gain skills to assist them with their employment prospects.
Volunteering can be a great way to refresh and restart if there’s been a pause in your working arrangements, or you wish to head down a new career path.
If you would like to engage, mentor, share or support, and have a kind and compassionate nature, volunteering at Bethanie may just be the right fit for you.
All Bethanie locations are Centrelink-approved voluntary work locations. Please outline your mutual obligation requirements in your application or discuss with our team at interview to help us identify a potential volunteering option that fits your needs.
Bethanie provides a series of online training modules for you to feel fully prepared and equipped to take on your volunteering role. These can be completed in the comfort of your own home, at a time convenient to you.
No specific skills are required to volunteer with Bethanie, however, communication skills (listening and engaging) and being flexible and adaptable are hallmarks of a great Bethanie volunteer. Providing a safe, comfortable and relaxed environment which stimulates great conversation with residents is essential.
Specific skills that you may be able to bring to the role can be a great addition. These may include being conversant in games or an art or craft area, having an in-depth knowledge of a specific topic, or being fluent in another language. When in the right environment, these can encourage a richer and fuller experience for both volunteers and residents.
Bethanie facilities are located across the Perth Metro area and in the Southwest of WA, so there should be a location convenient to you.
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| Perth South |
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There are various ways in which potential volunteers can express interest in volunteering for Bethanie. These include:
- Contacting our Customer Service (Bethanie Connect) team via phone at 131 151
- Sending an email to our Volunteer Services team at volunteers@bethanie.com.au
- Applying to specific roles which we have advertised on Seek Volunteer, Volunteering WA, Volunteering Australia and the Bethanie website.
Once Bethanie receives an application, a 15-minute phone interview is scheduled and conducted. Upon successful completion of the interview, all relevant paperwork needs to be completed. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Police Clearance or National Disability Insurance Scheme Worker Screening
- Proof of current Influenza vaccination and at least 3 COVID vaccinations
- Reference checking
Once all paperwork has been collated, e-Learning modules are allocated via the Bethanie Learning Hub.
The final step is attending an onsite induction.
We encourage volunteers to commit to two to three hours per fortnight at a minimum. This helps create an on-site presence, routine and familiarity with residents. Of course, Bethanie always loves if volunteers can commit to more!
Bethanie also understands personal circumstances change and there may be times when your availability may be reduced or altered.
Yes, we are a proud member of Volunterring WA
