This National Volunteer Week, which runs from 17-23 May, Dementia Australia celebrates and thanks more than 1000 volunteers who contribute to the lives of people living with dementia, their families and carers. 

Dementia Australia chief executive Maree McCabe said that this year’s theme is ‘Recognise. Reconnect. Reimagine.’ and expressed deep appreciation to the Dementia Australia volunteers for their immeasurable impact on the broader community.

“Dementia Australia volunteers assist us to change the community’s understanding and perspective of dementia,” Ms McCabe said. 

“Volunteers are integral to the work that we do at Dementia Australia and we are extremely grateful for the generosity and compassion our volunteers bring to their roles.

“Without volunteers we simply could not do all of the work we do. This week and every week we say thank you to them for the extraordinary difference they make.” 

The impacts of COVID-19 over the past year have meant that some volunteer programs have been reimagined to be offered online. 

Chris Finley became a Dementia Australia Volunteer more than five years ago after caring for his late wife Wendy who lived with dementia.

He has enjoyed the opportunity to continue to volunteer at a time when many were not able to do so, taking part in reimagined online offerings of programs such as Blokes in a Caring Role.

“Face-to-face Blokes in a Caring Role sessions were at times quite confronting when digging up old memories, but this is a somewhat cathartic exercise,” he said.  

“The most common client reaction is that it is really great to talk to someone who has been there – I know I have made a tangible difference to many of the blokes and to be able to do this on Zoom with an interstate group has been most rewarding.  

“There was no deliberate intention, but volunteering has certainly made my transition from carer to live-alone widower much easier and I suspect greatly eased the grieving process – they say volunteering prolongs life so perhaps in 20 years I will receive a congratulatory letter from King William!” 

For more information on how to volunteer, visit: dementia.org.au/volunteering.