After a long career in corporate management, raising three children (two of whom have spent considerable time in hospital), and having six of his own grandchildren to care for, you wouldn’t think David Farrar would be nervous about meeting a little girl. But, on his first day of volunteering at The Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), David said nerves got the better of him.
“I was very nervous when I met my first ‘grandchild’,” David explained.
“But she stood up and gave me a big squeeze and a cuddle, and it was just so gorgeous.
“She wanted me to come back. She asked her mother if it’d be OK for her to call me ‘Nana David’.”
Time to spare
Being a ward grandparent with the RCH was a natural fit for David, who retired three years ago and was looking to do more for the community.
After applying and being accepted, David, like all ward grandparents, had to undertake special training. All volunteer training is organised by the RCH’s Volunteer Services department, and Vanessa Pound said the program had been hugely successful.
“Our ward grandparents are selected and assigned to a family, with whom they arrange suitable days and times to visit,” Vanessa said.
“It’s a commitment of three days a week, three hours per day, for as long as the family needs — this can be weeks, months, or sometimes years.”
Giving families a break
Social worker Vicki Young said the ward grandparent role was special because it could reduce stress issues that impact families who are in hospital for a long time.
Usually, social work or nursing staff made a referral and submitted the request to the Volunteer Services department. Vicki said ward grandparents were matched to families who were in the most need.
“Families who may not have extended family support because they might be from overseas, or they don’t have other people to help them.
“It’s another person going in there and having a chat with the child and giving the family space to reduce their stress levels.”
Many parents don’t want to leave their child without someone they know or they trust being at the bedside, so the ward grandparents can give families the opportunity to leave the hospital and have a break or attend to other children or commitments.
A smile says it all
David said the rewards of the role were mostly very simple.
“Just seeing this little girl smile – she has spent half her life with medical problems,” he said.
“But she gets bored, so we play Play-Doh and cards and all that sort of thing. I think she was a bit sad when 4pm came, and I had to go.”
David’s advice to anyone considering being a ward grandparent?
“I think the whole concept is fantastic – I would recommend it to anyone who’s got time and loves children.”
If you’re interested in finding out more about the ward grandparent program, you can read more and apply online at www.rch.org.au/volunteers/ward-grandparents/