Qualities required for a Volunteer Peer Educator

• You need to be retired or semi-retired or 60 years of age or over and are not looking for full-time employment.
• You have an interest in health information and want to learn more about health issues.
• You enjoy presenting / delivering (either face to face and/or via zoom) health information to groups of older people.
• You enjoy working with older people from English speaking and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.
• You may have a health / medical / teaching background but this not essential. You can also apply if you have other educational backgrounds.
• You can apply if you have English and/or other language backgrounds.
• Previous training or experience is not required but all training will be provided.

Duties of a Volunteer Peer Educator

• Facilitating / presenting (either face to face and/or via zoom) to groups of older people in the community about health issues.
• Distributing health information resources (handouts) to groups during the session.
• Attending regular training, refresher training, information sessions, and meetings organised by HPSOP.
• Attending refresher training every two years for each health topic.
• Participating in seminars/workshops/forums for gaining extra knowledge about health issues if wanted.
• Cooperating with the HPSOP Manager, staff and other volunteers.
• Working in a team managed by the HPSOP Manager.
• Working with people from English speaking and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

Locations where Peer Educators are needed: Bankstown, Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Parramatta, Blacktown, Penrith, Richmond, Upper & Lower Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Port Macquarie, Lismore, Illawarra, Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama, Shoalhaven, Nowra, Ulladulla, Sanctuary Point, Batemans Bay & South Coast NSW.

Language You can apply if you speak any language, but you must be able to speak, read and write in English, as all training would be in English. You will provide education sessions to your own community in your language/s.

Terms Volunteer Peer Educators may resign at any time from HPSOP. All equipment, and sample and other products need to be returned to the Health Promotion Service for Older People after resignation or retirement.

Training All training will be via Zoom. Volunteers can attend the following training sessions: • Health topics training: each of the 8 health topics (Diabetes Awareness, Falls Injury Prevention, Medicine Management, Oral Health Care, Healthy Bone & Osteoporosis, Arthritis Management, Healthy Bladder & Bowel Habits, and StrokeSafe) is trained for 8 hours over 2 days. You will be assessed for each topic through presenting a mini content of the health topic to the group.

You can attend any of the health topics training that you would like. You don’t need to attend all the health topics training if you don’t like.

Costs All training is free. All costs incurred in carrying out HPSOP Peer Education work are reimbursed by HPSOP. This includes travel, telephone calls and photocopying.

Location of work Every effort is made to arrange talks for Peer Educators in their local area but sometimes they may be asked to travel a little further. Generally, talks are held in places such as community centres, senior citizens centres, libraries, Migrant Resource Centres, RSL clubs, Probus clubs, bowling clubs and places of worship etc.

Hours Peer Educators determine how much time they wish to devote to the position. A Peer Educator may do a talk / presentation once a week or once a month or even on a variable basis, depending on the volunteer’s availability and the number of requests from community groups received by HPSOP. Volunteering in HPSOP is very flexible and should not affect other commitments the Peer Educators may have.

National Police History Check NSW Ministry of Health requires a National Police History Check for all staff and volunteers who work in NSW Health funded programs. Volunteers must undergo this process which is organised by HPSOP at no cost to volunteers.

Benefits -Keep healthier and active -Free training on health topics -Reimbursement for travel costs -Free police checks -Engaged with peers and community groups