Carol Allen, BlueCross CEO congratulates some of the VITAL BlueCross volunteers during Volunteers Week.  L-R: Jean Harris 10 years service, Carol Allen, Christine Simpson 13 years service and Ellen Easton 22 years service.

Some of the many faces of the wonderful BlueCross volunteer team after receiving their awards during Volunteers Week at BlueCross Broughtonlea 

At BlueCross the old 'nursing homes' as we have known them have gone! Welcome to the new face of aged care.......

Volunteers are Vital

At BlueCross there are 200 volunteers across our services that provide a vital contribution to our ageing community.  Their involvement ranges from weekly dancing lessons to offering the simplest of gestures, a good old chat, an outing, or reading someone a book.  But the benefits are extraordinary.

During Volunteers Week in May, BlueCross held events around Melbourne to say thank you!

Ellen Easton is one of our vital volunteers.

Ellen received a special award for the extraordinary contribution of 22 years volunteering her services with BlueCross Springfield in Box Hill.

Ellen provides a library service to the elderly residents. When asked why she has continued to volunteer year after year Ellen explains, “For some I am the only outside contact they have.  I talk with them about their health, families, football and whatever is in the news of the day. They have become friends as well as clients and I get enormous satisfaction and pleasure bringing them the books and CD's they want and enjoy.”

Each week on a Wednesday night Peter Hailey volunteers at BlueCross The Boulevard in Lower Templestowe and provides an evening of dancing with the residents.

Meg Willis is the Lifestyle Coordinator at The Boulevard and says that what Peter contributes as a volunteer has created a new atmosphere at The Boulevard. “Peter’s presence is eagerly awaited each week. You can see people’s self esteem increase and physical confidence boosted while dancing with Peter.  He is so gracious to each one, patient and generous, week after week”, Meg says.

Peter’s dancing nights give resident’s like Barbara Ryan something to look forward to. Barbara who has Parkinson’s says, “I need to dance. The dancing is very beneficial because it fulfils a need no other activity can do.  It helps me physically with the movements of the Parkinson’s disease."

These volunteers and the many, many more like them provide so much more than books and craft.  These activities and social interactions are benefiting participants overall wellbeing, keeping them active and interested in life.

BlueCross CEO, Carol Allen says “Our volunteers offer a diversity of activities that would not be possible without their involvement.  The value added to the lives of those touched by volunteers is enormous. We are very grateful for their donated time, generosity of spirit and the practical support they provide that enriches the lives of our aged care residents and home care clients.”

If you would like more information on how to become a BlueCross Volunteer, please send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it