Despite coming from different backgrounds and life experiences, Naht and Nazih have found common ground in their shared commitment to helping others as volunteers at the Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH).
Naht, a student from Vietnam studying Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne, joined the RMH as a volunteer earlier this year. Nazih, originally from Egypt and a retired teacher, has been volunteering with the RMH since 2010.
The pair are among more than 200 volunteers working across the RMH, representing 35 different countries and speaking 37 languages to support patients, visitors and staff in countless ways every day.
As wayfinding volunteers, Naht and Nazih are often the first friendly faces people see when arriving at the hospital, greeting visitors, helping patients and families find where they need to go, and offering reassurance during stressful moments.
Despite the decades in age and experience between them, both say volunteering is driven by a desire to help others.
“I always felt I had to do something after I retired, to give back,” Nazih said.
“I have a personal connection to the RMH too, having been treated here as a patient back in 1969. It’s been a place that has stuck in my mind for a long time.”
For Naht, giving his time to help people has been a lifelong experience.
“I see volunteering as a part of my nature,” he said.
“Before coming to Australia, I would volunteer in areas of hardship across Vietnam, doing things like teaching English to people who hadn’t received a good education.”
Naht and Nazih say volunteering alongside people from different generations has created an environment of mutual learning and mentorship.
“The more experienced volunteers know what they are doing, they know this place so well and are happy to share that,” Naht said.
“I have learned a lot from them, and just kind of try to absorb as much information and knowledge as I can.”
Nazih said the experience works both ways. As a retired teacher, he enjoys mentoring younger volunteers while continuing to learn from them in return.
“I feel very comfortable sharing my experience with the younger volunteers,” he said.
“Of course, I am also learning a lot from them too. That’s one of the tenets of teaching, that you also learn from your students.”
The RMH’s Chief Executive Professor Shelley Dolan said volunteers like Naht and Nazih were crucial to the fabric of the hospital.
“Our volunteers are a deeply valued part of the RMH,” Prof Dolan said.
“They are the friendly face at the start of an appointment or the kind smile during their stay.
“Coming from diverse backgrounds, ages and life experiences, our volunteers reflect the community we serve and bring compassion and kindness to our hospital every day.
“Whether they are helping visitors find their loved one, providing assistance on the ward or supporting programs such as music and pet therapy, we could not provide the level of companionship that we do without our volunteers.”
Both Naht and Nazih encourage others to make time for volunteering and experience the benefits for themselves.
“There’s no excuse – you can always find time to do good for others,” Naht said.
“You’ll benefit from it yourself too.”
Nazih agrees.
“If I had to use one word to describe volunteering, it would be enriching,” he said.
This National Volunteer Week, the experiences of Naht and Nazih reflect how volunteering can connect people across generations, cultures and life experiences, coming together to offer support at the RMH
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