About the Community Visitors Scheme
The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) was established in 1992 and is funded by the Australian Government. CVS funds organisations (auspices) to coordinate volunteers to visit recipients in Government funded Aged Care Services (residential and home care) who are socially isolated and whose quality of life would be improved by friendship and companionship
The Aim of the Community Visitors Scheme
The Community Visitors Scheme aims to enrich the quality of life of recipients who may be socially isolated or lonely; whether for social or cultural reasons or due to disability. By befriending an older person, you have the opportunity to make a difference to their life and your own life.
The Community Visitors Scheme also assists the recipient to link with their local community.
It’s all about being a companion and friend
Being a Community Visitor is all about offering caring companionship and most importantly your time to someone who will benefit from your friendship or who may feel isolated for a variety of reasons, not all of them obvious.
Many of our Community Visitors have formed genuine and long lasting friendships with their recipients that have enriched their lives and brought happiness to both the recipient and themselves.
A friendship made all the more special because it is happening in the later stage of a recipient’s life, where priorities have shifted and the genuine care and companionship of another can mean so much.
Where do the visits take place?
Community Visitors may visit their recipient in an Aged Care Home.
What a CVS volunteer does
A CVS volunteer reads or shares a hobby or has a cuppa and chat. Takes a walk or goes on an outing. Is happy to watch a TV show with someone, bring a family pet or children to visit…
Who can become a CVS volunteer?
If you have the following skills or qualities we would love to hear from you:
- Is committed to building and sustaining a friendship with an older isolated person over an extended period of time.
- Have genuine empathy, understanding and enjoyment of older people.
- Have effective communication and listening skills.
- Is reliable and flexible.
- Able to commit to visits once a fortnight, for at least 12 months.
We need both people who can speak English fluently and volunteers whose first language is not English and be willing to be matched to a person who shares their first language and cultural background.
We also need people who are willing to be matched to people who will enjoy companionship but not necessarily conversation. For example, enjoy a walk together, listen to music, a board game or reading.
To become a volunteer, click here for our application form.
