The Northern Healthcare Volunteer Association Inc. (NHVA) is an Australian nonprofit organization dedicated to managing and supporting volunteers within the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN). Formerly known as the Lyell McEwin Volunteer Association, NHVA coordinates volunteer activities across several healthcare facilities including Lyell McEwin Hospital, Modbury Hospital, James Nash House, Northern Mental Health Recovery Service (previously Club 84), Northgate, and other sites within the network.

Mission and Activities

NHVA focuses on providing compassionate, non-clinical support to patients, their families, and hospital staff. Volunteers play a critical role in enhancing patient care experience by offering companionship, assistance, and emotional support in various wards such as dialysis, palliative care, emergency departments, acute care of the elderly, and children’s and women’s health wards. These volunteers help create a more comfortable and supportive environment, contributing over 9,347 hours of valued service in 2021-2022 alone.

The association emphasizes the holistic nature of volunteer support by engaging volunteers in one-on-one interactions, especially in sensitive areas like palliative care, where they help provide positive affirmations and emotional comfort for patients and their families.

Volunteer Roles and Training

NHVA offers diverse opportunities for volunteers to contribute based on their availability and interests. Volunteer roles include:

• Companion volunteering in various wards to offer patient companionship
• Assisting ward staff with non-clinical tasks
• Supporting patients in the emergency department and specialized wards such as dialysis and acute elderly care

To ensure volunteers are equipped for their roles, NHVA provides comprehensive training programs including workplace safety, fire safety, manual handling, and customer service skills. New volunteers receive 'buddy shifts' and on-the-job training to familiarize them with hospital environments and volunteer responsibilities.

Recognition and Community Engagement

The organization recognizes the valuable contributions of its volunteer workforce—numbering around 220 individuals—through service awards, special acknowledgements for outstanding contributions, volunteer events, and the provision of volunteer uniforms. Each year, NHVA celebrates its volunteers during dedicated appreciation weeks with events that include meet-and-greets with hospital executives and certificate ceremonies.

Impact and Significance

NHVA’s volunteer services enhance the capacity of healthcare facilities within the NALHN by supplementing the efforts of paid staff and improving patient well-being through empathy and personal engagement. By fostering a community spirit and encouraging active involvement in healthcare support, the association strengthens the overall quality of care in northern Adelaide hospitals.

Northern Healthcare Volunteer Association is registered under ABN 55911334857RR0001 and continues to be a pivotal nonprofit in Adelaide’s healthcare volunteer sector.

[1] https://northernhealthcarevolunteerassociation.com [2] https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/8da83da7-38af-e811-a95e-000d3ad24c60 [3] https://www.volunteer.com.au/volunteering?organisationid=7658 [4] https://makeadifference.volunteering.nsw.gov.au/volunteering-organisations/7658/northern-healthcare-volunteer-association [5] https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/services/hospitals/modbury+hospital/support+modbury+hospital/volunteering+at+modbury+hospital