Health promotion an education in itself

The Health Promotion Service for Older People is a program run by the Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association of NSW.

It offers free health education sessions to seniors’ groups throughout the state and is looking for more volunteers to run the sessions in their local area.

Retired Central Coast adult educator and previous small business owner Vivienne Scott has been with the service for five years and says the experience is “wonderful”.

“I get to learn, to meet interesting people and travel to different places,” said the 78-year-old, who travels to Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and up and down the Central Coast.

Training is provided, covering everything from presentation skills and working with an interpreter to learning about various health topics.

“But you certainly don’t have to be an expert, or even have a health background, as long as you enjoy meeting people and are articulate, ” said Vivienne, who has also worked in apprenticeship and trade training, adult education and as a peer educator with Council on the Ageing. “If I don’t know the answer to a question someone asks, I just tell them I don’t know but I will find out.”

The free sessions are aimed at older people who still live independently at home.

Vivienne regularly talks to community groups, retirement village residents and seniors’ groups.

“While talking about relevant health issues to people of my own generation I’m also learning myself,” she said.

“It keeps you alert and mentally stimulated, but we do need more people so we can take the service to more places.

“We are also looking for people who speak another language, as the sessions are available in 16 different languages.”

Vivienne said it is easy to schedule her volunteer work into her busy life. “I can select the dates of the presentations to fit in with my family commitments, travels and other volunteer work.”

The CPSA Health Promotion Service for Older People runs across metropolitan Sydney and in the Central Coast, Hunter, Camden, Richmond, Blue Mountains and Illawarra/

Shoalhaven areas. The program is offered in 16 languages, and there are currently about 40 volunteers.

There is a two-day training on June 18-19 at CPSA Head Office in Parramatta. Morning tea and lunch is provided and travel costs will be reimbursed. Applications close on June 5.