Four volunteers with Toowoomba Hospital Foundation are helping to make a positive impact in the lives of patients accessing services at Toowoomba Hospital, providing connection and comfort to Yazidi people and refugees navigating the health system.
Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha who speak Kurdish Kurmanji joined the Foundation’s Volunteer Program at the start of 2024 and are assisting patients and staff in Interpreter Services, Oral Health, Cancer Care and GARSS.
With Toowoomba’s Yazidi population one of the largest in Australia, their traditional language Kurdish Kurmanji is now the second most spoken in Toowoomba.
Along with providing comfort and support to patients across the health service, Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha are also assisting Interpreter Services and Oral Health staff with connecting with Kurdish Kurmanji speaking consumers.
Deepan (pictured) from Darling Downs Health Interpretive Services mentioned that, “The Kurdish Kurmanji speaking volunteers are very important to our health service because these ladies actually have an affinity with our consumers, and they are able to speak with them in their own language. If we can speak with people in their own language, they will be more comfortable and more confident with their trust in the health service.”
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Alison Kennedy said welcoming Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha into the Foundation’s volunteering program is helping to create better support that reflects our diverse communities in the Darling Downs.
“We have so many culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the Darling Downs who access and need the services provided by Darling Downs Health. So, it’s so important that we ensure our Foundation programs within the health service are open, welcoming, and connecting with these communities to better support them,” she said.
“Our volunteers have such an important role in helping the Health Service provide support, comfort, and importantly connection with patients and their families – whether it’s providing distraction and conversation, helping them find their way around campus and getting to their appointments, or making them a cuppa.
“We’re so delighted to have Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha as part of our volunteer program and are so grateful for their assistance in providing support to our community.”
Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha who speak Kurdish Kurmanji joined the Foundation’s Volunteer Program at the start of 2024 and are assisting patients and staff in Interpreter Services, Oral Health, Cancer Care and GARSS.
With Toowoomba’s Yazidi population one of the largest in Australia, their traditional language Kurdish Kurmanji is now the second most spoken in Toowoomba.
Along with providing comfort and support to patients across the health service, Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha are also assisting Interpreter Services and Oral Health staff with connecting with Kurdish Kurmanji speaking consumers.
Deepan (pictured) from Darling Downs Health Interpretive Services mentioned that, “The Kurdish Kurmanji speaking volunteers are very important to our health service because these ladies actually have an affinity with our consumers, and they are able to speak with them in their own language. If we can speak with people in their own language, they will be more comfortable and more confident with their trust in the health service.”
Toowoomba Hospital Foundation CEO Alison Kennedy said welcoming Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha into the Foundation’s volunteering program is helping to create better support that reflects our diverse communities in the Darling Downs.
“We have so many culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the Darling Downs who access and need the services provided by Darling Downs Health. So, it’s so important that we ensure our Foundation programs within the health service are open, welcoming, and connecting with these communities to better support them,” she said.
“Our volunteers have such an important role in helping the Health Service provide support, comfort, and importantly connection with patients and their families – whether it’s providing distraction and conversation, helping them find their way around campus and getting to their appointments, or making them a cuppa.
“We’re so delighted to have Ameera, Nadya, Warina, and Ragaha as part of our volunteer program and are so grateful for their assistance in providing support to our community.”
