The act of volunteering is special and provides many benefits for everyone involved. We welcome applications from anyone wishing to become a Te Whatu Ora Whanganui - Whanganui Hospital volunteer.

Benefits that come from volunteering at Te Whatu Ora Whanganui in particular include:

• For our patients and their families / whanau – bringing an additional dimension to patients’ comfort and welfare.
• For the community – providing a sense of community ownership in local healthcare facilities.
• For the volunteer –enjoying the opportunity to: 
  • give something back to the community
  • use existing skills for the benefit of others
  • gain new skills and experience
  • build confidence and take on new responsibilities
  • meet people and make new friends
  • feel valued, appreciated and useful
  • do something enjoyable
  • gain a sense of achievement
  • put spare time to good use.

To register your interest in becoming a Te Whatu Ora Whanganui volunteer, please call the hospital’s reception desk on 06 348 1234, and leave your name and contact details.

Someone will then contact you to arrange an interview. Please note that applicants will need to sign a confidentiality agreement and have a police clearance before becoming a volunteer.


Activities people can volunteer for at Te Whatu Ora Whanganui - Whanganui Hospital

Friends of the Hospital
Friends of the Hospital provide assistance to our ward patients by performing the following activities:

• hairdressing
• arranging flowers
• companionship and a listening ear
• assisting with personal laundry for out-of-town patients
• shopping
• reading
• writing and posting patients’ letters
• assisting with crafts, and playing cards or games with patients
• supporting patients and their families / whanau by providing general information about the hospital and the wards (such as car parking queries, or where things are located, etc).

Friends of the hospital – information for patients
Friends of the Hospital have been operating at our Hospital since 1975.

Their friendly faces can be seen in wards each weekday morning assisting patients with activities not covered by our nurses. These include:

• Hairdressing
  A professional hairdresser is available once a week to wash or cut patients’ hair. We have an on-site salon to which Friends of the Hospital volunteers will happily take you in a wheelchair, if you need assistance. Having your hair done while in hospital can make you feel much better, so please take advantage of this service if you are unable to wash your own hair.
• Arranging flowers
  Flowers are not permitted in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) or the Emergency Department, but are most welcome in all other areas of the hospital. Friends of the Hospital volunteers can arrange a vase and organise your flowers for you.
• Companionship and a listening ear
  Friends of the Hospital volunteers have all signed confidentiality agreements, so they can be a good sounding board if you need someone to talk to.
• Assisting with personal laundry for out-of-town patients
  Pink ladies can assist with washing clothes for out-of-town patients.
• Shopping for patients
  If getting to the shop is too much of a challenge for you, the Pink Ladies can assist. You will need to give clear instructions, together with the required money, so they can make purchases on your behalf. The amount of money will be checked by the nurse-in-charge before and after items are purchased.
• Reading to patients
  Friends of the Hospital volunteers are happy to read aloud to you if you would like them to.
• Writing and posting letters for patients
• Assisting with crafts, and playing cards or games with patients
• Supporting patients and their families/whanau by providing general information about the hospital and the wards (such as car parking queries, or where things are located, etc).

View our current vacancies