Current Volunteer Opportunities

Office Support

In the office support volunteer role, you will work in an office environment to assist departments with project-based activities.

Activities in this role include:

• Scanning and filing, etc.
• Putting together education packages that will make a difference to the patients’ experience with us.

This role is available at the Oshawa Hospital. 

Emergency Department (ED) Entrance

In the Emergency Department (ED) entrance volunteer role, you will work in a fast paced environment to assist patients and Essential Partners-in-Care (EPCs) coming into the ED.

Some activities include:

• Greeting patients and family/EPCs.
• Communicating safety protocols; use the computer tracker to help find patients for their visitor, etc.
• Supporting patients using self-check in kiosk.
• Helping with directions within and outside the ED department.
• Liaising with other ED volunteers as required.

This role is available at the Oshawa Hospital.

Navigator 

In the navigator volunteer role, you will provide support to patients who arrive at the Cancer Centre for their appointments. You can make a real difference to someone by being a friendly, helpful presence when they arrive.

Activities in this role include:

• Circulating in the waiting areas on 2 levels and provide supporting conversations within the journey of care.
• Supporting patients in the flow and process for their first appointment or other appointments and assist them with the registration computer as required/requested.

Note: A volunteer in this role must become comfortable with computers, standing and/or walking for the entire shift (4 hours maximum) and help wayfinding to other areas of the hospital.

This role is available at the Durham Region Cancer Centre located at the Oshawa Hospital.

Lobbies and Entrances

In the lobbies and entrances volunteer role, you will learn about the hospital and its services while interacting with patients and visitors at various entrances. This is a physically active position.

Other activities include:

• Greeting people as they enter.
• Providing required assistance to find locations within the hospital.
• Reinforcing safety protocols.
• Helping to deliver essential personal items to units.
• Assisting with managing wheelchair resources, as required.

This role is available at Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Whitby Hospitals.

Emergency

Activities in the emergency volunteer role include:

• Supporting patients and families waiting in the Emergency Department.
• Providing age-appropriate activities and comfort items (e.g., colouring, word searches, teddy bears, etc.).
• Calling transportation services (i.e., taxis).
• Assisting with wayfinding, directions, or escorting patients to different departments.
• Answering general questions.

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals.

Retail – Gift Shops, Cafés, and Second-Hand Clothing Stores

In the retail volunteer role, you will work with other volunteers to support the Lakeridge Health Auxiliaries and their fundraising goals through customer service and sales from various retail operations.

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals, Lakeridge Gardens, and offsite locations across the Durham Region.

Diagnostic Imaging – Breast Assessment Centre and Ultrasound

In the diagnostic imaging volunteer role, you will assist patients coming into the hospital for appointments.

Other activities include:

• Greeting patients and visitors as they arrive.
• Escorting patients to the exam room.
• Providing patients with gowns.
• Checking supplies.

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals.

Ambulatory (Outpatient) Support – Day Surgery, Eye Centre, Endoscopy, and Fracture Clinic

Activities in the ambulatory support volunteer role include:

• Supporting patients with registration, pre-operation, and post-operation tasks in partnership with the clinical team.
• Providing comfort and assistance before and after surgery.

This role is available at the Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, and Port Perry Hospitals.

Healthy Aging – Social Connection, Friendly Visiting, and Recreation Therapy

Activities in the healthy aging volunteer role include:

• Interacting with patients in a group setting and assisting the Recreation Therapy team escorting patients and encouraging them during programs.
• Interacting with patients in a one-on-one setting, providing socialization, and engaging the patient/resident in activities.

This role is available at Ajax Pickering, Bowmanville, Oshawa, Port Perry, and Whitby Hospitals and Lakeridge Gardens.

Durham Regional Cancer Center (DRCC)

Activities in the DRCC volunteer role include:

• Supporting navigation for new patients and others.
• Facilitating comfort and care during treatment.
• Facilitating communication between the nursing team and the patient.
• Offering conversation (listening/distraction) and support to reduce anxiety.

This role is available at the Oshawa Hospital.

Nephrology – Dialysis

In the nephrology volunteer role, you will assist the patients arriving at the hospital for Dialysis treatment.

Other activities include:

• Meeting patients at the hospital entrance.
• Assisting patients to the Dialysis unit.
• Helping with weigh-in.
• Providing comfort items (e.g., ice chips or blankets).
• Socialization.

This role is available at the Oshawa Hospital.

Patient Experience – Patient Family Experience Advisor

The patient experience patient and family advisor volunteer role is for individuals who have had a health-care experience as a patient or family member at Lakeridge Health in the last two years and would like to share their experiences, insights, and ideas with us to shape the care we provide.

Activities include:

• Joining committees and councils.
• Reviewing patient information and education materials.
• Sharing your story at various events.
• Contributing to policies and procedures.

This role is not hospital specific. You may be asked to contribute virtually or in person.

Distress Centre Durham

Distress Centre Durham operates 24 hours a day – seven days a week – and offers callers emotional support, crisis de-escalation, community referrals, and emergency intervention when necessary. We carefully select individuals 18 years of age and older to:

• Answer our helpline.
• Call members of our Community Contact Call-Out Program.
• Call members of our Seniors Reassurance Call-Out Program.

For additional information, please call 905-430-3511. To complete a Volunteer Application Form for this role, please click here.