By Pam Kiriakidis

NOT-FOR-PROFIT organisation Community Accessability is seeking volunteer drivers in the Mitchell Shire and City of Whittlesea to support the evolving transport needs of the communities.

The organisation, which assists elderly, NDIS participants and people living with disabilities, provides quality care, transport services and innovative programs across Victoria.

Under its volunteer-supported transport service, clients, including their carers, are driven by volunteers to ensure residents attend their appointments and commitments within and outside their communities.

A volunteer picks up clients from their door, often assisting with shopping, medical appointments and social activities while building rapport over tasks and social outings, allowing the client to maintain their independence.

In the Mitchell Shire and City of Whittlesea, there are currently more than 200 combined requests for volunteer-supported transport – specifically 118 in Mitchell and 82 in Whittlesea.  

Volunteers from Melbourne’s northern metropolitan areas such as Thomastown and Sunbury are currently covering long distances to fulfil the requests, but volunteer coordinator Jan Hay said that process would not be sustainable.  

“The importance is if we don’t have volunteers driving our vehicles, these clients won’t be able to attend their medical appointments, social activities, shopping, anything like that – they’d be relying heavily on their families,” she said.  

“We’re transporting between the City of Whittlesea and Mitchell Shire … the possibility of that is growing on a monthly basis – the need for volunteer drivers is huge.”  

To become a volunteer driver, anyone with a driver’s licence is eligible and will need to undertake training provided by the organisation, which also covers the costs of police checks, fuel, and uniforms, as well as providing access to vehicles that suit the preference of the driver and clients, and the participant’s mobility needs. 

Ms Hay said while having enough time often presented as an issue for people, any time was valued at the organisation. 

“We are looking for volunteers who can offer any amount of time, we have opportunities that range from as often as daily to as little as monthly,” she said.  

“If people have that little bit of time available, it might be half a day, might be a full day, but anything is very much valued and appreciated.” 

Ms Hay said volunteering was a ‘rewarding situation’ and welcomed people of any age and background to assist individuals with their everyday tasks.  

“Any person thinking of volunteering will be rewarded … it’s lovely, they will feel that they’re really supporting somebody within their community,” she said.  

“People might go and visit somebody who’s recently lost somebody, just go for walks, have a chat, we like to go shopping, push their trolley for them, reach up to high shelves for them and give them that independence as well.  

“It’s all about getting them out and about in their community and getting them able to participate in activities, groups that are happening around, but also keeping them living in their own homes.”  

Mutual obligation requirements can be met with volunteering under the organisation. 

For more information on volunteering opportunities, contact Community Accessability via volunteer@communityaccessability.org.au.