May 7, 2007

Volunteers from around Australia are meeting at a national forum in Sydney on May 9 and 10 to celebrate and share their experiences as Senior Peer Educators. The volunteers are recruited and trained by Council on the Ageing (COTA) organisations to deliver free medicines information sessions in partnership with National Prescribing Service Limited (NPS).

Volunteering Australia indicate 81% of volunteers surveyed would personally appreciate having their volunteer work recognised in the form of opportunities to develop their skills.

According to Sue Hendy, Executive Director, COTA Victoria and Ian Yates, Chief Executive, COTA South Australia, “this national forum sets a new benchmark for recognising the volunteers’ contributions. As far as we know this is the first time volunteers have been flown in from all around Australia to learn from each others’ experiences and further develop their skills.

“The Forum meets many of the best practice criteria for volunteer recognition: inclusion in special events, provision of training, taking the time to explain and listen to volunteer’s ideas and concerns.”

Hannah Baird, Manager, Community Quality Use of Medicines NPS, says “the peer educator approach was chosen as seniors have valuable life experiences which enable them to identify, empathise and be able to pass on important messages to their peers within the community.” Since 2004, 271 volunteer peer educators have conducted 2006 sessions with more than 46,632 Senior Australians.

NPS funds the program as part of its wider initiative to improve decision making about medicines with a focus on seniors. Medication is taken by 70% of the population in any two week period increasing to over 90% for older people. In Australia, more than 140,000 people are hospitalised every year as a result of potentially preventable medication-related problems.

NPS and COTA organisations hope news of the forum will encourage seniors to want to get to know their medicines and perhaps even consider becoming a QUM peer educator.

“COTA provide full training and support materials to volunteers. The sessions run for approximately one hour and are a fun and interactive opportunity for anyone over fifty in your community to get to know their medicines,” said Ms Baird.

For more information and to volunteer call your state or territory COTA organisation:

• ACT (02)6282 3777                          
• New South Wales (02) 82194231
• Northern Territory (08) 8941 1004      
• Queensland (07) 3316 2999
• South Australia (08) 8232 0422         
• Tasmania (03) 6228 1897
• Victoria (03) 9655 2107                   
• Western Australia (08)93212133

ENDS

National Prescribing Service and COTA organisations work in partnership, combining quality use of medicines expertise with an understanding of the needs and interests of seniors in Australia. NPS is an independent, Australian organisation for Quality Use of Medicines, funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. COTA organisations have a pre-eminent role in representing, advocating and responding to the needs and interests of seniors throughout Australia