Passionate and purposeful roles for volunteers have been created through the Advance Care Directive Project, an initiative of the inner south Councils of Onkaparinga, Mitcham, Marion, and Holdfast Bay, supported by Health Service Programs and Office for Ageing Well, SA Health.

Over the past two years over 200 people have attended community workshops across the region, supported by peer volunteers to consider their future healthcare, living arrangements, personal matters and dying wishes through completion of an Advance Care Directive legal form.

The role of the peer is unique, requiring non- judgmental and open communication, enabling sensitive and tender conversations about what matters most to older members of our community.

Training has been provided online and face to face, to harness the power of the peers’ lived experiences, followed by mentoring at workshops. Attendees have provided clear feedback appreciating peer’s abilities to create a friendly atmosphere where it is easy to have issues clarified, questions answered and build self-confidence to make their future wishes known on the form.

One workshops attendee said it “Gave me reassurance that completing an ACD does not need to be a difficult process and there are points to get help along the process.”

Volunteer peers indicated that the positive aspects of being involved have been a personal increase in knowledge about ACDs, and growing confidence to have the conversations with their own friends and family as well as workshop participants. Further benefits have included the chance to connect with community members and the privilege of sharing meaningful, supportive discussions about significant issues that many of us prefer to avoid.

A peer volunteer said, “The positive aspects for me were increasing my knowledge base around ACDs, connecting with my community (which I love) and having a solid mentor to guide.”

The workshops and volunteer roles will continue as the Project has highlighted the unmet need for education and discussion about life, living, death and dying in the wider community.

For more information about Advance Care Directives,  the project or volunteer roles visit the City of Onkaparinga website.