John Calls on New Colleagues for the Care Car

The Care Car is a service that makes a big difference in the lives of older people by providing an affordable, safe and age-friendly transport option to help them live independently at home.

One of the Care Car’s volunteer drivers, John Nairn, has put out a call to anyone looking for a rewarding volunteer role to join him in providing this vital service.

“If I could say one thing to anybody out there interested in doing it, it’s ‘just do it, don't hesitate’ because it’s a great way to give back to the community and it fills in a void for you,” John said. 

Over the past 18 months John has volunteered one day a week to drive the Care Car, taking clients to their health appointments, exercise classes, social groups and so much more.

“I always get a good feeling at the end of the day because I put myself in someone else’s shoes that can’t do the things they used to do and need a little bit of help and transportation is a big thing,” he said.

“When you lose your mobility and you can’t drive anymore but you need to get from A to B, you can get a sense of empowerment back, knowing you can use this great service to go out for the things you need to.”

John took on the role because he had previous experience working in transportation for an aged care facility and knew it was a valuable service for the community.

“What appealed to me about doing it as a volunteer was to stay connected to the community in a way that I like and to give something back,” he explained.

But the personal benefits of volunteering to drive the Care Car were something John underestimated until he got behind the wheel.

“You can see the smile on people’s faces when you arrive to see them and you build up rapport over a short amount of time, it’s a treat,” he said.

Currently, Southern Cross Care is seeking volunteers for its three Care Cars, based at Largs Bay, Myrtle Bank and North Plympton.

For more information or to apply, visit our Volunteer Drivers page.