When our regional guests, who are travelling to Adelaide for cancer treatment, check-in to our new supported accommodation at 202 Greenhill Road, they are welcomed by our dedicated Reception Team who continue to be a steady presence throughout their entire stay at Greenhill Lodge.
One of our Accommodation Receptionists, Tania has been with Cancer Council SA for over two years. She says that a guest could stay with us for one night or for months on end and the Reception Team can support them in a range of different ways throughout their stay.
“Reception staff provide support through the face-to-face relationships we build with returning guests over the course of treatment,” Tania says.
“We assist with Patient Transport Assistance Scheme paperwork, chat about their treatment and experiences while staying with us, share stories, and make connections with some extraordinary individuals.”
The Reception Team also liaise with the various other guest services including our Transport to Treatment service which drives our guests to receive treatment at hospitals around Adelaide, and our social workers to help refer guests who have specific support needs to services that can help.
Where guests need extra assistance, Reception staff can ensure they get help when they need it by helping them to access medical services.
“We are very privileged to work in this environment where we ‘ask’ guests to trust us at a time in their lives where they are often emotionally and physically vulnerable,” Tania says.
“The best part of our work is meeting amazingly resilient people who inspire me every day. Having to live away from home, away from family and community while going through cancer treatment takes incredible strength and courage.”
Some of our guests have transitioned with us from staying in our old Flinders and Greenhill Lodges to our new supported accommodation facilities at 202 Greenhill Road. Tania says she has seen that guests truly appreciate the new Lodge and the effort to make it feel like a ‘home away from home’.
“Knowing that our guests now have beautiful, functional accommodation is fantastic. We are working hard to build a new sense of community at 202 and it is lovely to see guests start to generate their own connections in the communal spaces available,” Tania says.
Learn more about the cancer support available for regional and rural South Australians at www.cancersa.org.au/support/support-services/country