What is it?
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS), previously known as Community Visitors Scheme (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. Gladstone Community Linking Agency is funded to recruit, train and support volunteers to visit older people in the following areas:
Gladstone
Tannum sands
Calliope
Biloela
Rockhampton
Miriam Vale
Agnes Waters
How does it work?
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 picking footy tips. It’s up to you!
Who can be a Volunteer Visitor?
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 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 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
Who is eligible to take part?
Regular visits are available to anyone receiving government-funded residential aged care or a Home Care Package. This includes people who are approved and waiting for an aged care home or on the National Priority System for a Home Care Package.
What are the Benefits for the Volunteer Visitors?
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 Gladstone Community Linking Agency 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.
Join the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme today
Join the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme today
We currently have vacancies for both volunteer visitors and elderly participants who would like to receive a visitor.
