Ways you can help
Volunteers play an important role in our healthcare facilities and hospitals by contributing to the wellbeing of patients, their families and visitors. They complement the care and service provided by the professional staff by assisting with various non-clinical tasks.
There are many ways you can volunteer, these include:
- providing information and assistance to patients and visitors
- spending time with patients — chatting, playing games, arts and crafts,
- reading
- encouraging, supporting and guiding practice sessions for long-term
- patient recovery
- driving hospital shuttles
- distributing books and magazines throughout wards
- arranging and tending to flowers in wards
- knitting, quilting and sewing items for maternity wards
- supporting whānau with tamariki in hospital
- assisting with pet therapists
- assisting in the playrooms
- providing musical performances for patients
- administration tasks
- editing and layout for newsletters
- working in the gift shop
- some light gardening
- assisting with events and fundraising
- delivering meals and drinks
- St Johns Friends of the Emergency Department
- Chaplaincy assistant
- support patient in the Transit Lounge
Volunteer opportunities in your area
Contact your local district for volunteering opportunities.
Locations:
Whangārei Hospital
Contact:
To find out about volunteering, call (09) 430 4101 extension 7802
Locations:
- North Shore Hospital
- Waitakere Hospital
Contact:
Waitematā volunteer opportunities — Better Impactexternal link
Locations:
- Auckland City Hospital
- Greenlane Clinical Centre
- Starship Children's Hospital
More information:
Auckland volunteer opportunities
Locations:
- Kidz First Children's Hospital
- Manukau SuperClinic
- Manukau Surgery Centre
- Middlemore Hospital
Contact:
Email: PatientExperience@middlemore.co.nz
Locations:
- Taumarunui Hospital
- Te Kuiti Hospital
- Thames Hospital
- Tokoroa Hospital
- Waikato Hospital
- Continuing Care Facilities – Rhoda Read (Morrinsville), Matariki (Te Awamutu)
Application:
We are not currently accepting new applications.
Contact:
Email: volunteers@waikatodhb.health.nz
Hospital hosts
Provide directions, hospitality, and physical/wheelchair assistance to patients and visitors.
Volunteering at Waikato Hospital — Hospital hosts volunteer — Vimeoexternal link
Chaplaincy assistants
Provide pastoral care under the guidance of hospital chaplains. Contact the Chaplain's Department, Waikato Hospital for more information.
Friends of women’s health
Support women, whānau, and staff in various women's health units.
Waikids volunteers
Assist in the Waikids playroom, providing activities and a safe environment for hospitalised children.
Volunteering at Waikato Hospital — Waikids volunteers — Vimeoexternal link
Medical records volunteers
Help with filing and administrative tasks in medical records departments.
Transit lounge volunteers
Support patients in the transit lounge by providing comfort, information, and assistance with meals and phone calls.
Volunteering at Waikato Hospital — Transit lounge volunteers — Vimeoexternal link
Waikato Hospital musicians
Create a positive environment through music, performing in public areas and wards.
Volunteering at Waikato Hospital — Waikato Hospital Musicians — Vimeoexternal link
Canine pet therapy team
Provide comfort and companionship to patients with trained dogs, particularly in Orthopaedic, Older Person Rehabilitation, and Paediatric Wards.
Volunteering at Waikato Hospital — Canine pet therapy team — Vimeoexternal link
Locations:
- Tauranga Hospital
- Whakatāne Hospital
Contact:
Phone: 027 231 3365
Email: volunteering@bopdhb.govt.nz
Information documents:
Hauora a Toi Bay of Plenty volunteer application form [PDF, 423 KB]PDF423 KB
Information Brochure [PDF, 1.8 MB]PDF1.8 MB
Locations:
- Rotorua Hospital
- Taupō Hospital
Contact:
To find out about volunteering call (07) 348 1199
Locations:
- Taranaki Base Hospital
- Hāwera Hospital
Contact:
Email: Human.ResourcesHelpdesk@tdhb.org.nz
Locations:
- Whanganui Hospital
- Dannevirke Community Hospital
- Horowhenua Health Centre
- Palmerston North Hospital
Contact:
For volunteering at Whanganui Hospital, call (06) 348 1234
For the other locations, email volunteer@midcentraldhb.govt.nz
Locations:
Hawke's Bay Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital
Contact:
Phone: 06 878 8109 extension 2752
Email: volunteer@hbdhb.govt.nz
Wairarapa Hospital employs a Volunteer Coordinator to oversee the development of volunteer services in the hospital and to ensure that your experience as a volunteer is enjoyable and rewarding.
Those who interact directly with patients will also need to be health screened. This is free and is for your own protection as well as the patients'.
Wairarapa Hospital volunteers are required to be a member of the New Zealand Red Cross and to have a police record check.
Are you:
- outgoing and friendly
- responsible and dependable
- culturally sensitive
- willing to accept Health NZ policies and procedures
- able to maintain strict confidentiality.
Do you have:
- a positive attitude to patients, visitors and staff
- a health status appropriate to the position.
Do you want:
- to give something back to the hospital and community
- to meet new people
- training and ongoing support
- a uniform and an identification badge
- the same safe and healthy working conditions as paid staff.
What do our volunteers do?
- Our Meet & Greet volunteers provide a warm and friendly welcome to visitors. They might help with wayfinding, locating wheelchairs, delivering flowers or offering general assistance such as calling a taxi.
- Emergency Department (ED) support volunteers work in conjunction with ED doing numerous tasks, helping ease the workload of this the fast-paced environment.
- Meals on Wheels volunteers head out in all kinds of weather to make sure vital sustenance is delivered to people who depend on us.
- Volunteers undertake administrative roles within the various hospital departments
- The Flower Ladies create beautiful floral arrangements and tend to patients' flowers. They work between the months of September and May.
- The Interdenominational Chaplaincy service provides support for patients and their families from volunteer chaplains.
- Volunteers take around a book and magazine trolley, which has some free toiletries on board for patients in need.
- Knitters and crafters often donate goods such as knitted hats and blankets for our maternity wards. We are supported by several local knitting groups in the Wairarapa.
Becoming a Hospital Volunteer
If you have skills to offer or spare time to contribute, contact us to see if volunteering is for you. We are open to all kinds of contributions. We may not be able to accommodate everyone but you are welcome to make enquiries.
Contact the Wairarapa Hospital Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: (06) 946 9800 x 475
Mobile: 027 278 3552
Postal address:
Wairarapa Hospital
PO Box 96
Masterton 5840
Locations:
- Wellington Hospital
- Hutt Valley Hospital
- Kenepuru Community Hospital
- Kapiti Health Centre
Contact:
Volunteer — Wellington Hospital Foundationsexternal link
Locations:
- Nelson Hospital
- Wairau Hospital
- Alexandra Hospital
- Murchison Aged Residential Care Hospital and Health Centre
Contact:
If you are interested in volunteering in the Nelson Marlborough region, or would like further information, email volunteernmh@nmdhb.govt.nz
Locations:
- Buller Health
- Te Nīkau Grey Hospital and Health Centre
Contact:
Email: admin@wcdhb.health.nz
Locations:
- Burwood Hospital
- Christchurch Hospital
- Christchurch Women's Hospital
Contact:
Email: burwoodvolunteers@cdhb.health.nz
Email: christchurch.volunteers@cdhb.health.nz
Locations:
- Dunedin Hospital
- Southland Hospital
- Lakes District Hospital
Contact:
Otago and Southland Hospitals use Hato Hone St John to organise volunteers.
Volunteering — Hato Hone St Johnexternal link
Volunteer for other health organisations
Hato Hone St John
Hato Hone St John organises volunteer positions such as Friends of Emergency Department, Hospital Friend, Hospital Host, and Community Carer.
Learn more about volunteering for Hato Hone St Johnexternal link
Cancer Society
Cancer Society Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa volunteers support people with cancer by driving them to hospital appointments, providing general support during hospital appointments, baking, and making cushions, turbans and hats.
Learn more about volunteering for the Cancer Societyexternal link
Minister of Health Volunteer Awards
The Minister of Health Volunteer Awards have taken place since 2013 and have recognised several thousand people for their significant contribution to the health and wellbeing of our communities.
They are an opportunity for us to celebrate and pay tribute to those committed and generous volunteers who play a huge part in supporting our health system.
| Category | Winner | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Health Care Provider Service Award | Tarihira Anaru, Better Breathing Volunteer | Christchurch |
| Community/NGO Health Award | Cancer Society Oncology Hosts (known as the yellow shirts) | Nationwide |
| Māori Health Service Award | Te Whare Manaaki Team at Hauiti Hauora | Tolaga Bay |
| Pacific Health Service Award | Aloese Lefono, Pasifika Parkinson's Support Group | Auckland |
| Mental Health and Addiction Service Award | Tanja Collinge, Volunteer Cook at Red Door Recovery | Wellington |
| Youth Health Volunteer Award | Hohepa Student Volunteers | Christchurch |
| Long Service Award | Trevor Johns, Hato Hone St John Volunteer Driver | Rotorua |