Ballarat Hospice Care Op Shop has reached a milestone 10 year anniversary this month! Over 30 volunteers celebrated with a special morning tea on Tuesday March 19, 2024 at the Ballarat Hospice Care Palliative Care Hub.

The ongoing success story of the Ballarat Hospice Care Op Shop is testament to the volunteer team who have consistently invested their time, dedication and passion to ensure the shop was always staffed, well stocked and ready to achieve its vision of becoming a ‘boutique Op Shop’ presenting quality items at affordable prices.

There are seven original Op Shop volunteers who are still volunteering at the Op Shop today. They continue to share their knowledge and enthusiasm for all things Op Shop with their volunteer colleagues.  

Ballarat Hospice Care CEO Mr Andrew Howard said “We are extremely grateful to our team of volunteers who dedicate so much of their own time to support the Op Shop which ultimately supports us our professional team in the delivery of home based specialist palliative care in their community.”

“Additionally we are grateful to the Board and staff who supported the original Op Shop concept. They have seen a return on their investment with growth in our volunteer numbers and a revenue stream to support specialist home based palliative care.”

The concept of The Op Shop was inspired by the experience of Goulburn Valley Hospice who vouched that their Op Shop provided additional funding to support local palliative care service delivery and research. Importantly it was also a way for volunteers and the community to be directly involved to support palliative care in their own community.

From the humble beginnings working out of the then home of Ballarat Hospice Care located at the time at 312 Drummond Street South the Op Shop moved to a shop location on Little Bridge Street followed by another move to its present location at 723 Sturt Street, Ballarat.

Ballarat Hospice Care Op Shop is open Monday-Friday 9:30am – 4:00pm and Saturday morning from 10am – 1:30pm.

Pictured from left to right back row:  Malcolm Weaver (Board Chair) Andrew Howard (CEO), Sue (Volunteer), Carol (Volunteer), Laureen ( Volunteer), Carita Clancy (former CEO)
Pictured from left to right front row: Peter Jones (Equipment and Stores), Ann (Volunteer), Susie (Volunteer) and Jan (Volunteer).
All volunteers pictured have been volunteering at the Op Shop since it opened in 2014.