(08) 8269 9333 stateoffice@lutherancare.org.au
Lutheran Care

Community Visitors Scheme

An older woman and younger woman sit next to each other on a couch smiling as they look at a photo album
Community Visitors Scheme

What is it?

The Community Visitors Scheme, or CVS, is an Australian government–funded program established to promote links between people living in an aged care home or in their own homes and the wider community. Lutheran Care is funded to recruit, train and support volunteers to visit older people in the following areas:

  • Metropolitan Adelaide (western, northern and eastern suburbs)
  • Adelaide Hills
  • Mallee and Southern region
  • Mallala
  • Murray Bridge
  • Barossa Valley
  • Balaklava 
  • Clare
  • Strathalbyn
  • Victor Harbor
  • Yankalilla

Lutheran Care has been continuously funded to deliver the Community Visitors Scheme in South Australia since December 1991.

Lutheran Care CVS Brochure

Lutheran Care CVS Newsletter

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme

The Community Visitors Scheme name will change from 1 July 2023 to the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) and will be accompanied by a new logo. This has been led by the Department of Health and Aged Care and there are no major changes to volunteering or visiting arrangements. In fact, a growth of funding and increased eligibility for older people means this program will be able to help more socially isolated people in the community and in facilities.

During the next 3-4 months, you will see the changes to ACVVS on platforms such as our website, Facebook page and other promotional items. We will endeavour to update these changes as soon as possible.

About the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme

Community Visitors Scheme

Lutheran Care leads cross-agency partnership

Lutheran Care is the lead agency of a consortium of CVS providers from a host of different agencies, working in partnership to deliver the CVS even more broadly across metropolitan and regional South Australia. To find out about our work together, visit cvssa.org.au. You can also follow us on Facebook.
Community Visitors Scheme

More Information

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

A Community 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 picking footy tips. It’s up to you!

To become a Community 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 up to date with required vaccinations for the Flu and COVID-19
  • Be able to make a 12 month commitment to visit.
  • Be committed to developing a strong and ongoing relationship with an older person and the CVS 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 CVS 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 during your first meeting with the elderly 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 facilities
  • has a bi monthly newsletter
  • reimburses visitor travel expenses
  • provides volunteer insurance.
"To see him happy... it's huge... we could just see the difference... he's truly feeling worthwhile."
Daughter of Keith
Community Visitors Scheme participant
Get In Touch

Join the Community Visitors Scheme today

We currently have vacancies for both volunteer visitors and elderly participants who would like to receive a visitor.

To apply to become a volunteer visitor, fill in an online application here. Or for more information, please get in touch with our team via the contact details below.

Get In Touch

Community Visitors Scheme

For more information about the Community Visitors Scheme

Adelaide Metro

Carolyn Koch: (08) 8269 9300

Adelaide Hills

Sonja Williams: (08) 8269 9300

Barossa Valley

Annie Chambers: (08) 8562 2688
Send Message

For all enquiries about the Community Visitors Scheme


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