The Boroondara Volunteer Resource Centre is advertising this role on behalf of City of Boroondara - Boroondara Cooks.

Making a Difference with a Meal

Our Volunteer Cooks enjoy cooking, have an interest in people, enjoy conversing with older people and are able to commit to delivering a nutritious home made meal to an older person on a regular basis.

A Boroondara Cook:

• Prepares their own main meal as part of their usual routine, plating up an extra portion for their selected Diner.
• Delivers the meal to the home of their selected Diner who is located within their local community. Delivery can occur at a time which is mutually convenient for both the Cook and Diner, as Diners may place the meal in their fridge to reheat later.
• Takes the time to say hello to their Diner - this could be 5 mins, 30 minutes or longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many times do I need to cook? Generally, our Diners enjoy regular visits from their Cooks - weekly, fortnightly or even monthly. It helps if the Diner has clear expectations on what a Cook is able to offer.
• What should I cook? The idea of the program is to prepare meals that you usually cook and to plate up one extra portion for your Diner. That’s why we always brief you regarding a Diner’s preferences, dietary restrictions or limitations. When you call your Diner for the first time, you can discuss what you usually cook and any preferences they may have.
• Who am I cooking for? Our Diners are generally older members of our community who are not cooking for themselves as regularly as they used to or at all. We find that Diners:
• may have lost enthusiasm to shop and cook for just themselves.
• may be limited by physical and cognitive conditions, for both shopping and cooking.
• may have lost a partner who did all the cooking. Our Diners are referred to us by members of our community, community organisations, Council services and various assessors in the area who specialise in aged care.
• How does the meal get delivered? Cooks generally deliver all meals to the Diner’s home.
• Can I take my family when delivering a meal? Our program is not just about the meal, it is also about reducing social isolation and increasing community connection and we love the idea of intergenerational connection. However, please note that Council’s Volunteer Insurance only covers a registered volunteer and not any other person including family members. We ask that Volunteer Cooks are considerate and always speak with their allocated Diner before introducing additional family members.
• How far do I have to travel? The program operates within the City of Boroondara. We always try to match Cooks with a Diner close to home, unless a Cook has a specific Diner in mind.
• Can I be under 18 years of Age? We do accept Volunteers 15 years and over, however Volunteers aged under 18 must have constant supervision by a parent or guardian who has also met the requirements.
• You will need to be a resident of Boroondara to participate in this program.