Volunteers visit elderly people living in aged care facilities or in their homes. The elderly person must be registered for a Commonwealth Government Support at Home Package to be eligible for a visitor.

A Volunteer Visitor is matched with an older person and visits them regularly, usually for an hour once a fortnight.

There are so many activities that will make your visit a rewarding experience. From just talking or reading, to playing cards, having a coffee, helping with craft activities or even going on an outing. It’s up to you!

To become a Volunteer Visitor, you must:

• Be aged over 18
• Have access to transport to meet with the older person
• Be able to meet for a few hours every fortnight
• Be willing to undergo an application and orientation process, including obtaining a Working with Children Check, a National Police Check and completing any additional training
• Be able to make a 6-12 month commitment to visit.
• Be committed to developing a strong and ongoing relationship with an older person and the ACVVS program
• Display genuine empathy and understanding of older people
• Have good communication and listening skills
• Be able to work independently and be flexible
• Show willingness to act with integrity, respect, confidentiality and dignity
• Be non-judgemental and welcoming to people from all cultures and backgrounds

The benefits are:

• friendship with an older person
• the appreciation from the person visited
• the appreciation from the facility
• opportunity to give something back to the community
• opportunity to serve the local community
• the flexibility and ease of visiting arrangements
• closeness of the facility to the visitor
• knowing that just a few hours’ contact means so much to the person and to the visitor
• opportunities to meet others who are also visiting
• getting feedback from other visitors.
• regular support meetings with the ACVVS team
• friendly and supportive coordinator available by phone
• Christmas and mid year appreciation functions
• support from Lutheran Care to liaise with aged care facilities and support at home coordinators, and during your first meeting with the older person
• being matched with a person who has been assessed as being suitable to receive a volunteer, who may have interests and cultural background in common with the volunteer.

The scheme:

• provides support activities for visitors
• arranges the matching of a visitor and resident
• maintains contact with the aged care facilities and support at home coordinators
• has a bi monthly newsletter
• reimburses visitor travel expenses
• provides volunteer insurance.