Volunteer at a hospital or health facility
We welcome volunteers to help support patients and staff at our hospitals and health facilities. Here is how you can help in your region.
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Volunteers play an important role in our healthcare facilities and hospitals by contributing to the wellbeing of patients, their families and visitors. They complement the care and service provided by the professional staff by assisting with various non-clinical tasks.
Volunteering is an opportunity to support your community hospital or healthcare facility by sharing your skills and experience. It offers people the chance to grow, learn, make new friends, exchange ideas and feel valued.
Ways you can help
There are many ways you can volunteer, these include:
- providing information and assistance to patients and visitors
- spending time with patients — chatting, playing games, arts and crafts, reading
- encouraging, supporting and guiding practice sessions for long-term patient recovery
- driving hospital shuttles
- distributing books and magazines throughout wards
- arranging and tending to flowers in wards
- knitting, quilting and sewing items for maternity wards
- supporting whānau with tamariki in hospital
- assisting with pet therapists
- assisting in the playrooms
- providing musical performances for patients
- administration tasks
- editing and layout for newsletters
- working in the gift shop
- some light gardening
- assisting with events and fundraising
- delivering meals and drinks
- St Johns Friends of the Emergency Department
- Chaplaincy assistant
- support patient in the Transit Lounge
Volunteer opportunities in your area
Contact your local district for volunteering opportunities.
Northland
Northland
Locations:
- Whangārei Hospital
Contact:
- To find out about volunteering call (09) 430 4101 extension 7802
Auckland (West and North Shore)
Auckland (West and North Shore)
Locations:
- North Shore Hospital
- Waitakere Hospital
Contact:
Auckland (Central)
Auckland (Central)
Locations:
- Auckland City Hospital
- Greenlane Clinical Centre
- Starship Children's Hospital
Contact:
Auckland (East and South)
Auckland (East and South)
Locations:
- Kidz First Children's Hospital
- Manukau SuperClinic
- Manukau Surgery Centre
- Middlemore Hospital
Contact:
Waikato
Waikato
Locations:
- Taumarunui Hospital
- Te Kuiti Hospital
- Thames Hospital
- Tokoroa Hospital
- Waikato Hospital
Application:
Contact:
Hospital Hosts: Provide directions, hospitality, and physical/wheelchair assistance to patients and visitors.
St John Friends of the Emergency Department (FEDs): Offer assistance and reassurance to patients in the Emergency Department, helping with tasks like phone calls and ensuring comfort. Contact the Hamilton branch of St John for application details. (external link)
Chaplaincy Assistants: Provide pastoral care under the guidance of hospital chaplains. Contact the Chaplain's Department, Waikato Hospital for more information.
Friends of Women’s Health: Support women, whānau, and staff in various women's health units.
Waikids Volunteers: Assist in the Waikids playroom, providing activities and a safe environment for hospitalised children.
Medical Records Volunteers: Help with filing and administrative tasks in medical records departments.
Transit Lounge Volunteers: Support patients in the Transit Lounge by providing comfort, information, and assistance with meals and phone calls.
Waikato Hospital Musicians: Create a positive environment through music, performing in public areas and wards.
Canine Pet Therapy Team: Provide comfort and companionship to patients with trained dogs, particularly in Orthopaedic, Older Person Rehabilitation, and Paediatric Wards.
Bay of Plenty
Bay of Plenty
Locations:
- Tauranga Hospital
- Whakatāne Hospital
Contact:
Rotorua and Taupō
Rotorua and Taupō
Locations:
- Rotorua Hospital
- Taupō Hospital
Contact:
- To find out about volunteering call (07) 348 1199
Tairāwhiti
Tairāwhiti
Taranaki
Taranaki
Locations:
- Taranaki Base Hospital
- Hawera Hospital
Contact:
Manawatū-Whanganui
Manawatū-Whanganui
Locations:
- Whanganui Hospital
- Dannevirke Community Hospital
- Horowhenua Health Centre
- Palmerston North Hospital
Contact:
- For volunteering at Whanganui Hospital call (06) 348 1234
- For the other locations email volunteer@midcentraldhb.govt.nz
Hawke's Bay
Hawke's Bay
Locations:
- Hawke's Bay Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital
Contact:
- Phone: 06 878 8109 extension 2752
- Email volunteer@hbdhb.govt.nz
Wairarapa
Wairarapa
Wairarapa Hospital employs a Volunteer Coordinator to oversee the development of volunteer services in the hospital and to ensure that your experience as a volunteer is enjoyable and rewarding.
Those who interact directly with patients will also need to be health screened. This is free and is for your own protection as well as the patients'.
Wairarapa Hospital volunteers are required to be a member of New Zealand Red Cross and to have a police record check.
Are you:
- Outgoing and friendly
- Responsible and dependable
- Culturally sensitive
- Willing to accept Health NZ policies and procedures
- Able to maintain strict confidentiality
Do you have:
- A positive attitude to patients, visitors and staff
- A health status appropriate to the position
Do you want:
- To give something back to the hospital and community
- To meet new people
- Training and ongoing support
- A uniform and identification badge
- The same safe and healthy working conditions as paid staff
What do our volunteers do?
- Our Meet & Greet volunteers provide a warm and friendly welcome to visitors. They might help with wayfinding, locating wheelchairs, delivering flowers or offering general assistance such as calling a taxi.
- Emergency Department (ED) support volunteers work in conjunction with ED doing numerous tasks, helping ease the workload of this the fast-paced environment.
- Meals on Wheels volunteers head out in all kinds of weather to make sure vital sustenance is delivered to people who depend on us.
- Volunteers undertake administrative roles within the various hospital departments
- The Flower Ladies create beautiful floral arrangements and tend to patients' flowers. They work between the months of September and May.
- The Interdenominational Chaplaincy service provides support for patients and their families from volunteer chaplains.
- Volunteers take around a book and magazine trolley, which has some free toiletries on board for patients in need.
- Knitters and crafters often donate goods such as knitted hats and blankets for our maternity wards. We are supported by several local knitting groups in the Wairarapa.
Becoming a Hospital Volunteer
If you have skills to offer or spare time to contribute, contact us to see if volunteering is for you. We are open to all kinds of contributions. We may not be able to accommodate everyone but you are welcome to make enquiries.
Contact the Wairarapa Hospital Volunteer Coordinator
Phone: (06) 946 9800 x 475
Mobile: 027 278 3552
Postal address:
Wairarapa Hospital
PO Box 96
Masterton 5840
Wellington and Hutt Valley
Wellington and Hutt Valley
Locations:
- Kapiti Health Centre
- Kenepuru Community Hospital
- Hutt Valley Hospital
- Wellington Hospital
Contact:
Nelson-Marlborough
Nelson-Marlborough
Locations:
- Nelson Hospital
- Wairau Hospital
- Alexandra Hospital
- Murchison Aged Residential Care Hospital and Health Centre
If you are interested in volunteering in the Nelson Marlborough region, or would like further information, email volunteernmh@nmdhb.govt.nz
West Coast
West Coast
Locations:
- Buller Health
- Te Nīkau Grey Hospital and Health Centre
Contact:
- Email admin@wcdhb.health.nz
Canterbury
Canterbury
Locations:
- Burwood Hospital
- Christchurch Hospital
- Christchurch Women's Hospital
Contact:
South Canterbury
South Canterbury
Otago and Southland
Otago and Southland
Locations:
- Southern Hospital
- Lakes District Hospital
Contact:
- Southern Hospital and Lakes District Hospital use Hato Hone St John to organise volunteers.
- Volunteering — Hato Hone St John (external link)
Volunteer for other health organisations
Hato Hone St John
Hato Hone St John organise volunteer positions such as Friends of Emergency Department, Hospital Friend, Hospital Host, and Community Carer.
Learn more about volunteering for Hato Hone St John (external link)
Cancer Society
Cancer Society Te Kāhui Matepukupuku o Aotearoa volunteers support people with cancer by driving them to hospital appointments, general support during hospital appointments, baking, and making cushions, turbans and hats.
Learn more about volunteering for the Cancer Society (external link)