Journal article
Evaluation of a pilot 'peer support' training programme for volunteers in a hospital-based cancer information and support centre
NA Kinnane, T Waters, S Aranda
Supportive Care in Cancer | Published : 2011
Abstract
Purpose: Volunteers from Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) Patient Information and Support Centre (PISC) assist the Cancer Support Nurse by helping patients and families/carers find information and provide face-to-face peer support. Benefits of shared personal experiences between volunteer and patient are clearly different from professional support. Volunteers require specific skill sets and detailed preparation for this role. Materials and methods: Volunteers completed a 3-day training programme adapted from the Cancer Council Victoria's 'Cancer Connect Telephone Peer Support Volunteer' training programme. The focus was role expectations and boundaries for peer support volunteers, d..
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Funding Acknowledgements
Peter MacCallum would like to acknowledge invaluable assistance and support from the Cancer Council Victoria in developing this training programme; The Pratt Foundation for support of Harnessing Inner Strength, the internal psychosocial programme at Peter Mac; Associate Professor Penny Schofield and Ms Annabel Pollard from the Harnessing Inner Strength team for support and comments on the original manuscript and Ms. Anne Franzi-Ford J.P., Manager of Volunteer Services at Peter Mac, for assistance with adapting and co-facilitating the training programme and the PISC volunteers for their participation and support.