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SickKids

Women's Auxiliary Volunteers

The Womens Auxiliary Volunteers (WAV) is a registered charity providing service and support to SickKids. WAV is a membership-based organization governed by a Board of Directors that is made up of our members.  

WAV aims to provide an extra dimension of care to patient families and to support the clinical, research and learning endeavours of SickKids. WAV owns and operates The 5Fifty5 Shop at SickKids. The net income from the shop is used to fund projects for SickKids and SickKids Foundation. 

Volunteer opportunities Become a member

Our vision

Service and Support Making SickKids Better.

Our mission

To deliver through direct service and fundraising an extra dimension of care to patients and families and to support the clinical, research and learning endeavours of SickKids.

Our values

Compassion. Commitment. Collaboration.


Our fundraising impact

WAV is a grand benefactor of SickKids Foundation, having raised over $18 million since 1993 to support SickKids programs, care and services. 

WAV members have taken on many fundraising endeavours over the years to help facilitate projects within SickKids for which funding is lacking. Fundraising by WAV occurs primarily through The 5Fifty5 Shop. Over the past 25 years, WAV has funded five research chairs, totaling over $12 million.

View our 2020 Financial Statement (pdf).


Volunteer opportunities

WAV members provide direct volunteer service to support many areas at SickKids. A weekly commitment of 3.5 hours is generally required. In addition, volunteers have the opportunity to join committees and contribute to organizing or working at various fundraisers throughout the year. 

Want to join our team?

To volunteer with the WAV, you must first become a WAV member.

WAV Membership Application

The process to become a Member can take several months and involves the following key steps: 

  • Application 
  • Interview by Membership Chair 
  • Screening and background checks; health check and mandatory vaccinations (at expense of prospective volunteer) 
  • Placement on a service (30 hours of orientation are provided) 
  • Payment of annual membership dues and purchase of WAV jacket by volunteer 
  • Member formally approved and read-in as a WAV member at a Board meeting 

New volunteers will be placed in a vacancy within one of the following services: 

  • Play ParkWork with Registered Childhood Educators to provide siblings of inpatients and clinic patients a safe and nurturing environment.  
  • 5Fifty5 ShopWork in the shop as a salesperson, stocker, merchandiser, buyer, sewer or knitter. 
  • Main Information Desk: Provide information and directions to families and visitors to SickKids in a welcoming way. 
  • Family Centre: Work with staff to run the book circulation desk, read to children at story time, help with craft activities and take the mobile book cart to inpatient units. 
  • Ultrasound: Provide assistance to the clerical and technical staff by performing administrative tasks. Assist families by prioritizing their appointments and help entertain children before and during their tests. 
  • Bravery Beads: Deliver Bravery Beads to inpatient units and other storage areas in the hospital using the Bravery Bead Cart (flexible hours). 
  • Poster Express and Decals: Take the Poster Express and Decal cart to inpatient units to exchange posters and decorate rooms with decals (flexible hours). 
  • Surgical Waiting Room: Volunteers are the liaison between families whose children are having surgery and Peri-Operative Care Unit staff. The Surgical Waiting Room operates year-round and volunteers commit to a five-hour shift either in the morning or afternoon. 
  • Orthopaedic Clinic: Assist the clinic staff by keeping families informed of wait times and by helping children and families pass the time by talking and playing with children. 
  • Haematology/Oncology Outpatient Clinic: Spend time with patients and siblings while providing play-based activities as well as caregiver relief. 

About Bravery Beads

The Bravery Bead Program allows children who wish to participate the chance to collect a different bead for each procedure or event while visiting the hospital for treatment. The goal of the program is to make a necklace with colourful beads that represent the unique and special journey of a particular child and to make something that they are proud of and want to share with family and friends. Beads are not given as rewards, incentives or pick-me-ups, but rather they are earned and represent each child’s individual story through treatment.

The Women’s Auxiliary Volunteers are very proud to support the Bravery Beads program for our very brave children at SickKids.

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Careers

Make an impact by applying for a job at SickKids. From clinical care to research and learning, find your next role on our Careers page.

Volunteer

We welcome volunteers of all ages to help us deliver world-class care for children and their families.

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