14 May 2015

MEDIA RELEASE

NEIGHBOURS WITH HEART

We all know from the famous Australian TV theme song that everybody needs good neighbours.

That’s why Sacred Heart Mission is piloting the ‘Five Minute Volunteer’, to connect local residents with elderly neighbours who may need help with some small tasks.

The Mission has a number of clients who live in community and public housing but don’t have any family or friends who can help take out their bins, collect a forgotten item at the shop, or just check on their welfare.

It was identified that there are City of Port Phillip residents who are happy to do welfare checks and everyday tasks for an older neighbour, but not aware of how to instigate the connection and the offer.

Manager of the Mission’s Home Care program, Libby Cross, believes that the ‘Five Minute Volunteer’ may have appeal to younger, working people because it’s unscheduled, flexible, is after-hours and across weekends. The concept is about being neighbourly and you can fit it into your lifestyle. The program offers a different type of volunteering experience.

“Our hope is that the pilot will assist the residents who are elderly, isolated and sometimes homebound, to maintain their independence. We’re confident that the volunteers will be rewarded from being engaged in community life with five minutes well spent.” Ms Cross said.

The idea of the Five Minute Volunteer came out of the February 2014 heatwave when there were two consecutive weekends of temperatures exceeding 41 degrees.

Of the 75 Home Care clients, only five had families who could check on them. There was an additional 31 clients who were deemed to be high or very high risk of heat related illness.

Staff at the Home Care program worked over two weekends (it’s usually a Monday to Friday 9-5 program) checking on the well-being of clients: that they were drinking enough, comfortably clothed, had air conditioners on (if they had them), and were overall coping with the heat.

It was thought that community-minded local residents could help out with monitoring the welfare of these residents in times of potential crisis such as heat waves, storms and power outages.

A grant of $10,000 from the City of Port Phillip has allowed Sacred Heart Mission to pilot the Five Minute Volunteer program until the end of 2015.

ENDS