Geelong local David Smith has only been volunteering at Mercy Place Rice Village over the past year, but has already had a positive impact at the aged care home according to Acting Service Manager Pamela Matheson.
“The residents love spending time with David, he brings smiles to their faces,” she said.
Mr Smith began volunteering at the Village after experiencing a new lease on life while recovering from an acquired brain injury. He now visits the home every Monday to meet with residents and lead sing-a-long activities.
“I’d be lost without it. I hear inspiring stories from residents … and singing along with them is a truly joyous experience,” he said.
Volunteers make up a key part of our aged care workforce, with over 23,000 people giving up an average of five hours’ of their free time a fortnight last year so it’s great to see providers acknowledging the valuable role they play.
International Volunteers Day was Tuesday 5 December.
