LifeGiving Newsletter for Volunteers 2

Welcome to your first issue of LifeGiving!LifeGiving is all about you — the wonderful volunteers who donate their time, energy and skills to help Lifehouse provide uncompromising patient care. As such, we would love to share your news, stories and photos in future issues of the newsletter. So let us hear your stories – may they be fun, informative or interesting.

Please send your contributions to: communications@lh.org.au

Happy reading!

LifeGivingTHE NEWSLET TER FOR VOLUNTEERS AT CHRIS O ’BR IEN L I FEHOUSE

ISSUE 1 | APRIL 2014

3 LifeGiving Newsletter for Volunteers

And the winner is…Oriella Tomassini! Oriella is a Wayfinder volunteer at Lifehouse and winner of our newsletter name competition.

We chose ‘LifeGiving’ as it is a great representation of your role as volunteers at Lifehouse, giving precious support and comfort to help patients receive exceptional care.

As the competition winner, Oriella will receive a $100 Coles Group & Myer gift card. Congratulations Oriella and thank you to all those who submitted so many great ideas.

Our competition

Thank you words

Pic of Oriella?

“The tablet is a great distraction. Loved it. I must not forget the volunteers, who look after us with food and beverages. They are fabulous. I felt like I was on a Qantas flight sitting in first class.”

Do you want to recognise one of your peer volunteers for their exceptional work? Send your special recognition to: communications@lh.org.au.

“I wanted a coffee. I imagined I could find a machine (level 2). I was very happy to see a wonderful array of coffee and… a lady with a great sense of humour to serve me! Wonderful if you’re nervous and needing that extra attention.”

LifeGiving Newsletter for Volunteers 4

Volunteer story

You have probably seen them walking around Lifehouse with their orange aprons, wheelie carts full of colourful fabrics, pots and drawings, and most of all, their generous smiles and laughter.

Amanda Solomon and Deborah Burdett, creators of Arterie, are the new additions to Lifehouse’s team of volunteers.

Arterie is an innovative cross-discipline model of art engagement specifically designed for healthcare. The aim of the program, currently in its six-month pilot stage, is to improve outcomes for Lifehouse patients, families, carers and staff by easing the side effects of cancer treatment (such as stress, pain and fatigue) through art engagement.

The program currently includes monthly 30-minute lectures, two-hour art workshops and the mobile trolleys ‘carterie’.

“All our activities are delivered in short bites we call ‘engagements’ so people can jump in and out as they will. Everyone, from all ages and skill levels, can participate – patients, families and Lifehouse staff,” Deborah explains.

“The idea is to provide a ‘normalising’ activity during medical treatment,” Amanda adds.

Art journaling, miniature constructions, hand drawing, knitting and sewing or collage projects are some of the activities offered on the mobile ‘carteries’. The series of lectures and workshops are free for anyone to attend and showcase guest artists presenting on different art-related topics.

Arterie was born out of Amanda and Deborah’s passion and belief that creative arts can have significant positive effects on patients following diagnosis and during

treatment and recovery. The feedback received from participants has confirmed their belief.

“We ask willing participants to fill out a questionnaire and the comments we have received have been incredibly positive. Everyone has been very encouraging,” Amanda says.

Amanda is no stranger to the benefits of art for the healthcare sector, having participated in a number of hospital-

based artist-led workshops in conjunction with Kaldor Public Art Projects (The Sydney Children’s Hospital Randwick, 2012). Amanda has also worked as an arts educator, supporting the elderly, the disabled and those affected by dementia. She is currently a guide at the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

“The initiative we’re delivering at Lifehouse is exactly what we had set out to achieve… It feels so right to be offering patients relief through art. I feel privileged to be able to give back,” Amanda says.

Deborah, a practicing artist, former member of the Wingecarribee Shire Public Arts Advisory Committee and a town planner, sees Arterie as the perfect culmination of their combined life experiences.

“All our personal and professional experiences and skills accumulated over the years are brought together in this program. It is the perfect role,” she says.

Arterie injects colours and art into patient care at Lifehouse

Arterie founders Deborah (left), Amanda (right)

Upcoming Arterie engagementsCarterie: Every Tuesday to Thursday throughout Lifehouse, 10am to 3:30pm Workshop: ‘LittleLifehouses’ by ceramicist/artist Eloise Rankin, Wednesdays, 23 & 30 April, 2-4pm in the LivingRoom, free to attend. RSVP by calling the LivingRoom on (02) 8514 0038.

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LifeGiving Newsletter for Volunteers 1

Magnet storiesDid you bring a fridge magnet for our tearoom from your last holiday? Send us a picture of it with the name of your destination and your three hot tips for that city/country and we’ll share them in an upcoming issue of LifeGiving. Send your magnet stories to: communications@lh.org.au. Happy travels!

NoticeboardNational Volunteer WeekNational Volunteer Week’s theme this year is ‘Celebrate the power of volunteering’ (12-18 May). To acknowledge your contribution and thank you for the wonderful work you do at Lifehouse, we will be holding lunch time celebrations during the week beginning 12 May. Stay tuned!

Next volunteer meeting Wednesday, 4 June

from 1pm to 2pm

Education Centre, Level 5

ManmadeManmade is a miniature construction project for all skill levels and Carterie’s most popular activity. Using a packet of assorted small, monochromatic building materials, participants have the complete freedom to explore and create a sculpture – as abstract or real as they wish it to be. Grab a packet from Deb and Amanda, and let your creativity do the work!

“Plus, I get to make people laugh and give them companionship – it is such a rewarding experience.”

Deborah and Amanda have been friends since 1988 and their camaraderie is felt from the first minute you meet them.

“We work so well together and spark off each other,” Deborah says. “And we think most of our ideas are great,” she jests, sending the room into laughter.

The Arterie pair is certainly not short of ideas for the future of the project, whose pilot will run until August 2014.

They hope to expand their offering and, over time, spread through Lifehouse’s walls some of the amazing creations from those who have dared to let their imagination run wild.

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LivingRoom open houseLifehouse LivingRoom is holding an open house for patients on Tuesday 8 and Thursday 10 April, between 10am and 11.30am as well as 3pm and 4pm.

Please refer patients to the LivingRoom so they can receive a complimentary 15-minute acupuncture, massage, reflexology or exercise physiology treatment. There will also be yummy smoothies specially prepared by our Dietitian-Nutritionist. Patients who book a follow up treatment on the day will receive a 20% discount.