Above and Beyond - Recognising Charingfield’s Dedicated Volunteers

At the heart of the Charingfield Aged Care community in Sydney’s eastern beaches are some incredible individuals – a group of volunteers who dedicate their time, energy and compassion to enhancing the lives of residents. Manager, Laxmi Bhandari, says the volunteers are an integral part of the family, bringing their own special joy, support and friendship to residents and staff.

Volunteer Jenny and her friend Ann run a popular monthly Arts & Crafts group, supporting residents explore their creative side. “I’ve been volunteering for around 18 months and I get so much pleasure planning the sessions and then working with residents on their projects. There is so much banter and laughter in the room – a lovely creative energy,” she says. “In addition to the social side, creative pursuits provide great mental stimulation for all of us.”

Residents also look forward to the monthly cooking demonstrations by Volunteer Lynne, whose father is a resident at Charingfield. “The afternoon tea treats are very popular. Residents enjoy seeing it all come together from the recipe, and then they eagerly wait while the kitchen bakes the biscuits or slices, before we sample them together. You can really see how much they love being part of these activities.”

Find out more about Charingfield Aged Care