Red Cross keeps check on clients | Gold Coast News | Local News in Gold Coast

JO-ANNE Harding makes up to 150 potentially lifesaving phone calls in a single day.

The free Red Cross Telecross service covers all of Queensland, and a Gold Coast client base of about 160 people keeps the volunteers busy.

Mrs Harding has volunteered in the Southport office for almost five years, making phone calls to check clients are well.

“I work in the office one day a week with three or four volunteers who call all the people who don’t have a caller on that day,” Mrs Harding said.

“It might because the volunteer is on holidays or something like that.

“I retired and was looking for something to do so responded to an ad in a newspaper for data entry at the Red Cross office.

“You speak to people who are grateful for the phone call.

“I enjoy it and feel needed.”

Mrs Harding said more volunteers were needed for the service, especially in the office.

“The service means a lot more people can stay in their homes for longer,” she said.

“We can be very busy in a half an hour time slot and we are always short for callers in the office.”

Telecross client co-ordinator Megan Shirley said more than 220 volunteers in Queensland made the phone call from home every morning.

“Volunteers make a call at a designated time during the morning to people in need,” Ms Shirley said.

“The program is a well-being checker for the elderly, medically at risk, socially excluded and others.”

Ms Shirley said each volunteer for the service was assessed and trained.

She said clients could be self-referred or referred by a family or friend with the person’s permission.

“It is a social connection that may not have been there otherwise,” Ms Shirley said.

“The support is direct for the client and indirect for the family.

“It provides reassurance for the family to know someone is making contact with their loved one.”

Calls occur between 7.30am and 9am in three timeframes and if the call goes unanswered an emergency procedure is employed.

“If there is no response the listed emergency contacts are contacted,” Ms Shirley said.

“There have been several instances through the Telecross service by activating the emergency procedure someone has been found on the floor.”

She said there was also flexibility in the service for clients.

“It can be short-term if, say, a carer goes away on holiday and it can be stopped at any time if the client goes away or if family is staying with them.”

Ms Shirley said volunteer call plans changed every month to keep the phone call anonymous.

She said it was not a counselling service but a well-being call to check whether the client was safe.

People interested in becoming a volunteer for the Red Cross Telecross service or a client can call 1300 885 698 (in Queensland) or (07) 5539 7011.