This week is National Volunteering Week and IRT (Illawarra Retirment Trust) residents and staff across the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla have been holding special morning teas to thank their volunteers and celebrate the contribution they make to supporting older Australians living at home, in retirement villages, and in aged care centres.
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IRT regional volunteer representative Jason Hough said special events have been held at IRT sites in Nowra, Culburra, St Georges Basin, Milton, Moruya, and Dalmeny.
It was also an opportunity to present certificates to many volunteers who had reached three, five, and 10 year volunteering milestones with IRT.
"After more than 12 months of our residents and volunteers often feeling terribly disconnected due to the Covid situation, it has been truly wonderful to see everyone starting to catch up with each other again," Jason said.
Mr Hough says that IRT volunteers make a real difference in the lives of older Australians by engaging with them in a broad range of activities such as assistance with serving food, driving the bus on outings, supporting social activities, helping with arts and crafts, going for walks, offering pet therapy, and many other engaging activities. Residents really enjoy having someone to talk to, and volunteers really enjoy talking to them too.
He added, that volunteering in general has been in decline in recent years, and IRT has also experienced this.
IRT is always keen to hear from anyone interested in volunteering with IRT. Contact Jason on 0417 227 474, or go to the IRT website www.irt.org.au to see what current volunteering roles are available.
