JP volunteers helping patients and staff
Faye has been volunteering at Redcliffe Hospital for more than 14 years.
After 14 years, Faye Pearce is a well-known face around Redcliffe Hospital, and with good reason.
She’s been in practice for more than 40 years, and her services are in high demand.
During her consultation hours, there’s often a line of people patiently waiting for her help. Other times, Faye is called up to the wards to help patients at their bedsides.
But Faye isn’t a doctor or a clinician—she’s a Justice of the Peace—and an essential member of the hospital’s volunteer community.
Redcliffe Hospital has around 100 people like Faye as part of their community of volunteers.
Some of those volunteers are members of the Hospital’s Auxiliary, which raises funds to support patient improvements. Other hospital volunteers assist patients more directly, including in places like the hospital’s specialist outpatients department.
Faye’s volunteering career at Redcliffe Hospital began working at the hospital’s front desk, greeting patients and visitors.
“It was good being able to help people to get where they needed to go, because when they come in, they’re often stressed,” Faye said.
These days, Faye puts her Justice of the Peace qualification to good use – as part of the hospital’s Justice of the Peace service.
“I particularly enjoy going up on the wards, down to the Rehabilitation Unit or the Palliative Care Unit, where people really need a JP and they’re unable to leave their beds,” she said.
“There are lots of different kinds of documents that people need a JP for.”
Faye says that along with taking affidavits and statutory declarations, there was also demand for a Justice of the Peace to witness important documents like enduring powers of attorney and wills.
“I’ve witnessed signatures for two wills today so far,” Faye said.
It’s not only patients that Faye assists either. Hospital staff often line up for Faye’s help as well.
“There are a lot of students, for starters. They’re always having copies of their qualifications certified,” she said.
“I love it. Every day is different, presenting different challenges, but the people are really lovely.
Along with 14 years of volunteering at the hospital, Faye has also been a patient on more than one occasion.
“They looked after me so wonderfully well. I just love Redcliffe Hospital. Everyone’s so good. It’s wonderful.”
Redcliffe Hospital’s Justice of the Peace Service is available Monday to Thursday between 8am and midday.