Volunteers
The mission of Ambulance Wish Western Australia is to fulfill the wishes of terminally ill patients who are no longer mobile and unable to travel without medical intervention, equipment and support. Medically trained volunteers and adapted ambulances provide the means to make these last dreams come true.
At Ambulance Wish Western Australia volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, from the management committee to the office help, from the dedicated volunteer drivers and attending health care professionals to the community fundraisers. Everyone plays a part in fulfilling the last wishes and creating lasting memories.
Fulfilling final wishes
“There is something undeniably heartwarming about seeing a final wish granted. A terminal illness brings about feelings of complete powerlessness for everyone involved. Death is an unstoppable force and when we are confronted with it, it is our instinct as humans to fight, to search for a new solution, to deny reality.
If there is something in that chaos that we can control, some way to bring light into that darkness, it can take away some of the sting that comes with an impending death.”*
Ambulance Wish Western Australia utilises volunteer AHPRA Registered Health care professionals (Medical Practitioners, Nurses and Paramedics) along with volunteer Wish Ambulance Drivers and Crew to accompany patients on their final wishes.
* ASD
Volunteer feedback
Volunteer types
Office and administration volunteers
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- support us with fundraising, administration, marketing and promotion;
- support with volunteer recruitment, applications and training; and
- support us with wish experience reviewing and planning.
Wish experience volunteers
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- AHPRA registered medical practitioner, nurse or paramedic;
- Wish Ambulance Driver and Crew;
- Photographer.
All volunteers
- Are required:
- to have a Police Clearance and Working with Children (WWC) check;
- to provide evidence of relevant qualifications and experience; and
- undergo a volunteer induction programme and then ongoing training.
- Will undergo a screening process before being accepted into the volunteering team.
- Must commit to a minimum of 12 months of volunteering with Ambulance Wish Western Australia.
- Will be provided with an Ambulance Wish Western Australia uniform while volunteering.
- Will be provided with an annual summary of their volunteering hours.
Wish process summary
A call out will be made to all registered wish experience volunteers summarising the date, the wish experience and wish recipient needs (allocation will be made based on required clinical skills, first response and relevance to the wish requirement).
The wish experience volunteers will then receive further information on the wish recipient, including detailed wish description and medical briefing. If an AHPRA Registered Medical Practitioner or Nurse is attending to the wish recipient they will be crewed with a Paramedic or ambulance officer until they are competent and comfortable utilising the ambulance equipment safely and independently.
Registered wish experience volunteers need to be available for the whole day, recognising that some wishes take longer than others.
Volunteering opportunities
Final Wish Clinician
Wish Clinicians (AHPRA registered Medical Practitioners, Nurses or Paramedics) accompany the wish recipient on their final wish, providing medical assistance, care and support as required.
Ambulance Driver/ Crew
Volunteer Wish Ambulance Drivers and Crew accompany the wish recipient on their final wish - duties include driving the Wish Ambulance and providing care and support as required.
Community Ambassador
Our Community Ambassadors play a vital role in representing the Charity at local events and functions, seeking out or organising fundraising opportunities and promoting our aims and objectives.
Final Wish Supporter
Our office and administration volunteers support in a range of functions, including fundraising, administration, marketing; volunteer recruitment; and wish experience reviewing and planning.
Benefits of volunteering?
Healthier
Volunteers are happier, healthier and sleep better than those who don’t volunteer*
*Volunteering Australia
Well-being
95 per cent of volunteers Say that volunteering is related to feelings of well-being*
*Volunteering Australia
Happier
96 per cent of volunteers say that it “makes people happier”*
*Volunteering Australia
VOLUNTEER VILLAGE
Ambulance Wish Western Australia values its volunteers and aims to create an environment which promotes and sustains effective volunteering and builds engagement. Our Volunteer Village, a developing compassionate community that surrounds the Ambulance Wish Western Australia programme, is for all our volunteers, whether they are healthcare professionals, fundraisers, event coordinators, photographers and office teams.
Ambulance Wish Western Australia’s Volunteer Village will not only host the volunteer administration system and organisation’s policies and clinical guidelines; but also education on palliative and end-of-life care, mental health first aid and developing resilience and events calendar. The Volunteer Village Facebook Group also provides volunteers opportunities for contact, feedback, discussion and support.