Volunteer Stories – Meet Anna

Anna started her volunteer work at Juniper in April 2017 as a Café Assistant.

Anna had always loved spending time with older people and felt that volunteering in aged care would be a rewarding and enjoyable way to help others.

“To begin with I felt quite nervous, but soon the residents and the therapy staff became a family to me, where I was welcomed and made to feel a part of their team”.

“I initially started working in the cafe one afternoon a week. It was like a foreign language to me. I panicked that I would not be able to manage. Learning residents’ names and their dietary requirements took a little while, but I am happy to say I got there”.

“My hours increased to two full days a week. I would spend my time having one-on-one chats with residents, doing hand massages, church group, newspaper readings, and craft activities”.

“I was impressed by how staff interacted with the lovely residents and how protective they were of them and their homes. Something a staff member said to me on my first day has stayed with me. As we walked into one of the resident’s rooms, she said, “These are our residents’ homes”.

Anna said she has met some truly wonderful people volunteering at Juniper – residents and staff.

“I have a special place in my heart for my time spent at Juniper. The work is very rewarding, and it has enriched my life too”.

 To all our valuable volunteers like Anna – thank you!

Become a Volunteer

There are many ways to volunteer with Juniper. Whether you’re a good listener, arts and crafts guru or a talented musician, your unique skills could make a huge difference in the lives of others. To learn more about how you can get involved, visit our Volunteer Page or get in touch with us on 9240 0313 and speak with our Volunteer Coordinator.