VoicesAutumn 2009

INSIDE2 Director’s Diary

3 Healing from Hilda’s House

4 Our Valued Volunteers

Could you fundraise for Hospice?You can help Ipswich Hospice Care make a difference in the lives of the terminally ill and their families by fundraising amongst your family and friends.

Organising a fundraising event or activity is a fun and rewarding way to make a contribution. So why not plan to raise some funds for Ipswich Hospice Care in 2009.

Hold a casual dress day at work or school, a shopping tour amongst friends, a sausage sizzle with profits donated to Hospice. Contact Hospice for a copy of our Fundraising Guide with helpful information and tips for planning your next event.

For more information regarding fundraising for Ipswich Hospice Care, please contact our Business Development Manager, Alison Lahey, on telephone 3812 0063.

Who is Ipswich Hospice Care?Ipswich Hospice Care Inc. (IHC) is a not-for-profit, non-denominational, purpose built community owned health care facility providing high quality palliative and bereavement services to terminally ill people and their families in the Ipswich and surrounding areas. As we are a community owned and run facility, we rely heavily on a base of volunteers to assist with the necessary day to day operations of Hospice and support from the Community at large.

Grief and loss is a natural part of life, however it is an experience that many members of our community deal with poorly and without support and guidance. By supporting the needs of the local and surrounding communities with quality services, we are ensuring the development of a healthy and strong community.

Above: Team Leaders of Ipswich Hospice Care Inc., from left are Alison Lahey (Business Development Manager), Melissa Austernin (Financial Support Coordinator), Sharon Ferrar (Quality Coordinator), Ros Holloway (Director), Karen Squires (Manager Ipswich Hospice Bargain Centre) and Jane D’Arcy (Manager Community Services).

may 09 10am to 2pm, Ipswich Hospice Care Witch

Craft Stall at the IGGS Old Girls Craft Fair Rockton House, Ipswich

07-09 10am to 8pm daily, Ipswich Hospice Stall at the Ipswich Show

16 St Andrew’s Private Hospital Ball

24-31 Ipswich Hospice Week

31 10am to 4pm, Hans Fundraising BBQ, Warwick Road, Yamanto

june05-26 4pm to 5pm each Friday, Adolescent Grief

Group, Hilda’s House, Ipswich Hospice Care

august 06-27 6.30pm to 8.30pm each Thursday, Adult Grief

Group, Hilda’s House, Ipswich Hospice Care

22-23 9am to 4pm daily, Ipswich Hospice Craft Stalls at the Queensland Horticultural Society Show at Mt Cootha Botanical Gardens

september03-17 August Group continues

6.30pm to 8.30pm, Adult Grief Group, Hilda’s House, Ipswich Hospice Care

23 Hospice AGM

even

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Print Post Approved: PP438766/00026

I would like to acknowledge our previous Chairman, Gerard Pender’s wonderful contribution to Ipswich Hospice for the past eight years. Gerard will continue to assist in the direction of Hospice through his contribution to the Management Committee. My term as Chairman is now in full swing and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. The global economic downturn is affecting many of us in various ways, and Ipswich Hospice is also being affected. While we count on the community to support us, we understand the pressures that many of us are under financially. I encourage you to help maintain and grow your community Hospice in any way you can. I welcome feedback from the community and would encourage your thoughts via email on information@ipswichhospice.org.au.

from the chairman Peter McMahon

Ipswich Hospice Care ...constantly changing. It is often said - “Ipswich Hospice has changed - it is not the place it used to be”. I could not agree more. Ipswich Hospice has changed and will continue to do so in the future.Some changes are not made by choice, but rather as a result of external influences. An example of this would be the global financial downturn, which has resulted in less donations from the community and lower payroll deduction donations. Changes in legislation and standards related to health care and work place health and safety also determine our policy changes.

There have been many staff changes over the past couple of years, particularly in Administration. Gayle Brockie was farewelled as Development Manager in November, 2008 having been part of Ipswich Hospice for nearly 14 years. In this edition of Voices, you will read about some of the new team members, who have been warmly welcomed to this organisation.

Whilst we discuss what has changed, I would like to reiterate what has not changed. The exceptional, holistic care provided to our guests and their families remains of a very high standard: - which includes the nursing care, meals, environment (such as the gardens) and the kindness that is demonstrated, is to be commended by all of us working hard to achieve this goal.

You may have read in the newspapers recently that Ipswich Hospice is to receive a one-off grant from the State Government. Ipswich Hospice is one of seven non government Palliative Care facilities to receive this grant. This was not a rescue bid for Ipswich Hospice, as indicated in one of the newspapers. Ipswich Hospice is very grateful for this additional funding and we are working hard on developing our 2009 – 2011 Strategic Plan to ensure financial viability for Ipswich Hospice for the future.

The demand for the services provided by Ipswich Hospice continues to grow and grow. The number of programs offered through the Hilda Des Art’s Community Centre has increased, including the addition of an Adolescent Grief Group. Whilst other like organisations are cutting staff and services provided, Ipswich Hospice is ‘taking a leap of faith’ and expanding services. Our aim is to meet the needs of the Ipswich Community in the area of Palliative Care and Bereavement support.

We are trusting that the community will continue, as it has done over the past 15 years, to uphold and support this organisation.

Ipswich Hospice is here because you want us to be here.

director’s diaryRos Holloway

Make a donation | Make us the beneficiary of your next event… small, big, or HUGE! | Run an event to raise funds for Hospice | Volunteer at Hospice - help out in the kitchen, garden, or with the guests | Become an event sponsor Make Ipswich Hospice a beneficiary of your Will | Complete the enclosed membership form and become one of our official supporters | Open a Heritage Bank Community Saver Account and nominate Ipswich Hospice Care as your Charity

2 No fuss way to donate to your charityHeritage Building Society is offering an attractive new way to support Ipswich Hospice. The Communitys@ver account offers a high rate of interest on your savings, plus Heritage will match a percentage (currently 1%) of your savings and give it to Ipswich Hospice. (For example, if you have $1000 in savings, Ipswich Hospice will receive $10 per year as a Community Grant.)

Simply select Ipswich Hospice Care (group ID 1172) when you open your Communitys@ver account at your local branch or online at www.heritageonline.com.au.

Heritage Building Society reports that we already have nearly 100 people who have set up accounts with Ipswich Hospice as their nominated Charity which is very encouraging.

You should consider the Guide to Heritage Deposit Products, available in branch, online or by calling 13 14 22, before deciding if the Communitys@ver is right for you. The Community Grant amount above is indicative for the examples only, and actual amounts will differ depending on individual circumstances.

For further info visit your local Heritage branch at Booval Fair Shopping Centre, phone 3812 1244 or log onto www.heritageonline.com.au.

How can you help Ipswich Hospice?

Local school supports HospiceWest Moreton Anglican College Junior School Captains, Charlotte Hughes and Jarrod Moore, were delighted to present a cheque for $539.50 to Ipswich Hospice Care at their School Assembly in March. The money was raised through a Free Dress Day held at the end of Term 4, 2008. Acting Head of Junior School, Mrs Pam Carden, said the children were very proud of the significant amount of money raised which was going locally to a very worthy cause.

WMAC students Charlotte Hughes and Jarrod Moore, and Pam Carden presenting cheque to Ipswich Hospice Care Business Development Manager, Alison Lahey.

Voices

At one of our first ‘Kids Grief’ groups at Hilda Des Arts Community Centre, a young child, concerned about what she was going to tell her friends if they asked her about the group, sought guidance from the group’s facilitator. Hilda Des Arts Community Centre seemed to be quite a mouth full for the young child to say, let alone having to respond to any questions after saying ‘I’m going to a ‘Grief Group’.

The facilitator, in her infinite wisdom, replied “why not just say “I’m going to Hilda’s House”. The question never came up again and the local friendly name “Hilda’s House” continues to be adopted by adults and children alike, all for reasons of their own.

Jane D’Arcy, Manager Community Services

Hospice is the recipient of several grants each year which helps pay for the physical upkeep of the Hospice facilties and training of our staff. Thank you to the following funding organisations:

■ Gambling Community Benefit Fund - for upgrade of computer equipment■ Ipswich Hospital Foundation - for training of our Co-ordinator of

Volunteers

Hospice also receives significant donations from Corporate and Community Organisations throughout the year. Thank you to the following organisations that helped raise money or donated to Hospice over the past six months.

Make a donation | Make us the beneficiary of your next event… small, big, or HUGE! | Run an event to raise funds for Hospice | Volunteer at Hospice - help out in the kitchen, garden, or with the guests | Become an event sponsor Make Ipswich Hospice a beneficiary of your Will | Complete the enclosed membership form and become one of our official supporters | Open a Heritage Bank Community Saver Account and nominate Ipswich Hospice Care as your Charity

The services at Hilda’s House led by two staff members, Jane D’Arcy and Janine Hills, continue to flourish and expand with the help of our support and administration volunteers.

Despite Hilda’s House being set up to offer support to Hospice Guests, their families and people in the community who are caring for a terminally ill family member, with the help of skilled volunteers, we have been able to offer a great deal more.

We have recently expanded our counselling services by renting our professional therapy room to a team of psychologists who are eligible for the Medicare rebate.

The seven week ‘Kid’s Grief Group’ and concurrent ‘Parent Group’ workshops have become well known in the community and continue to fill up quickly. With the help of a number of volunteer facilitators this year, we have been able to offer three of these groups beginning February, May and October.

Our first ‘Young Person’s Grief Group’ is currently being piloted at Ipswich High School and we are hoping to secure funding that will enable us to deliver the workshop to three more schools in the Ipswich and rural communities.

Our first seven week ‘Adult Grief Group’ began on April 16th and we are currenty taking bookings for evening sessions in August.

The Hilda’s House team recently held an informal ceremony, where the messages written to love ones from the Remembrance Tree are burnt and spread through the Memorial Rose Garden at Hospice (see photo). Support volunteer Sandra Fitzgerald, penned some touching words and shared them on the day.

Swift Australia

Recruitment Queensland

Harper Hocking Swim/Walk-a-thon towards Kids Grief Group, Hilda’s House

Jim McMahon Family

Bids for Kids, Ipswich Indy Foundation

Marburg Hotel proceeds from QT Footy Tipping Competition

Mayor Paul Pisasale towards Adolescent Grief Group (Hilda’s House)

Liquor Industry Action Group proceeds from Annual Bowls Day

Fresh Computer towards a computer upgrade

Quota International Ipswich proceeds from “Jazzing Up” music festival

Sanitarium Health Food Company

Heart Support Australia

Len Russell Funeral Director

Ipswich Orpheus Chorale proceeds from Concert

to our corporate supporters

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from Hilda’s House

Voices37 Chermside Road, Eastern Heights Q 4305Phone: 07 3812 0063 Fax: 07 3812 0232Email: information@ipswichhospice.org.au Web: www.ipswichhospice.org.au

The results are now in from our Ipswich Hospice Volunteer Satisfaction Survey conducted late last year. All Volunteers had an opportunity to provide feedback on their experience at Hospice and to provide ideas on how the Volunteer Program could be improved.

98% of the respondents were happy with their role at Ipswich Hospice Care Inc with 91% of the respondents feeling a valued member of the Hospice team.

In terms of the training experience, 95% of respondents believed the training they received prior to commencing as a Volunteer was appropriate and adequate and 91% of the respondents indicating satisfaction with the on-going education and training program.

We are continually interviewing people who wish to Volunteer for Ipswich Hospice Care Inc but unfortunately only 50% actually become Volunteers. There are various reasons for this recruitment rate: some realise that Hospice is not right for them, others become ill and others find employment. Fortunately 50 % do proceed to the Volunteer Training Program.

Our Volunteer Training Course is conducted every second month and the attendance rate is between 10 and 15 people. The course is run over two days and covers topic specific to volunteering for Ipswich Hospice Care Inc. A third day is offered that concentrates on volunteering in the Guest Wing and the Kitchen. This third day provides more in depth information regarding palliative care, grief and loss.

Since last December we have also been conducting ‘Individual Area of Volunteering’ update training sessions. This provides an opportunity for more in depth consultation with volunteers and to involve them in the planning of their specific area of volunteering training.

We have also been training in Workplace Health and Safety which is mandatory education for the Volunteers. This education includes Fire Safety and Object Handling. The training is available different times and over several days. This approach has proven very successful with high attendance rates and positive feedback from the volunteers.

A very big thank you to all of our volunteers for their ongoing support of Hospice and its services.

Our Valued Volunteers

This publication is proudly sponsored by

quick noteKaren Squires

Hi, my name is Karen Squires and I have recently started as Manager of the Ipswich Hospice Bargain Centre located on Brisbane Street.

Since starting in February I have implemented quite a few changes, particularly in regard to the set out of the shop to help reduce clutter and enable greater accessibility for everyone.

We recently had the wonderful volunteers from Rotary join us on a Saturday to help us with a tidy up of the shop and this has made a remarkable difference. Our Clothes Sale in April was a success and we have plans for many more sales in the future.

A reminder to all local Ipswich residents, our Bargain Centre is involved in the Rewards Card programme run by the Queensland Times and Ipswich City Council. So please check out our advertisement in the QT each week and see our great specials.

Use your Rewards Card in the Bargain Centre for your chance to...

win a $1000 shopping spree!

Donate to Ipswich Hospice CareTo make a donation, simply:

■ telephone Ipswich Hospice Care with your credit card details

■ send a cheque to Hospice■ donate online at our website

www.ipswichhospice.org.au

All contributions, no matter how small, are greatly appreciated.

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