Utilising volunteer visitors to tackle isolation

Home care providers are being encouraged to register for a free online broadcast on fostering social inclusion through the Federal Government’s Community Visitors Scheme in aged care.

Home care providers are being encouraged to register for a free online broadcast on fostering social inclusion through the Federal Government’s Community Visitors Scheme in aged care.

The program produced by the Aged Care Channel and the Department of Social Services will be available to watch on Wednesday, 30 September at 2:15pm AEST and registration is free.

The ACC program features a panel discussion with Karen Martin from ACC; Esis Tawfik, CVS manager at Multiple Sclerosis Society and CVS Victorian Network member; and Valerie Chu, CVS coordinator with Sydney Local Health District and CALD CVS Network Member.

The panel will discuss the features of the Community Visitors Scheme, showcase real-life case studies, and take calls from service providers to understand their experience of the CVS.

Eligibility for the program, obligations under the Aged Care Act 1997, police checks for CVS volunteers will also be discussed.

The CVS provides one-on-one visits by approved volunteers to home care recipients and aged care residents with the aim of reducing the prevalence of social isolation among older Australians.

The 30-minute broadcast can be viewed on your PC, laptop, Mac, iPad, iPhone or smartphone.

For more information or to register, visit Aged Care Channel website.

Tags: aged-care-channel, community-visitors-scheme, news-ccrn-4, notebook,

9 thoughts on “Utilising volunteer visitors to tackle isolation

  1. I am a Red Cross Community Project Officer for Community Visitors Scheme covering Wollondilly and Wingecarribee Councils area in Southern Highlands of NSW. We are already established in this area as this is a national Red Cross programs covering both home and facility visiting. My number is 02. 48615727 or call 9229 4111 and ask to be connected to a State Office. Regards Diane

  2. Red Cross Gosford provides the Community Visitors Scheme to clients who are on Home Care Packages that would benefit from a volunteer visitor. Central Coast provides this service to residents in both the Wyong and Gosford council areas. The service provides a visitor to socially isolated parties for an hour a fortnight or weekly. Clients are needed.

  3. Red Cross provides the Community Visitors Scheme in ACT and the South East NSW and Eurobodalla regions. Our volunteers visit people in the Aged Care facilities and those who receive Home Care Packages in the community.

    For further information call Jill Parsons, 02 6234 7634

  4. At Australian Multicultural Community Services (AMCS) we provide the Community Visitors Scheme to clients from CALD backgrounds who are receiving assistance through Home Care Packages and would benefit from a volunteer visitor. We operate in Western, Northern, and Southern suburbs of Melbourne as well as in Barwon – South Western region including Geelong. Our volunteers also visit people in the Aged Care facilities across Victoria. For further information please call Ewelina Kwiatkowska on 03 8371 2318.

  5. There is also an unmet need for independent “advocacy” within our residential care sites- rather than jusat a ” passive” visitor role – a deeper need is for those who do not have someone to put forward suggestions and ideas on their behalf of residents- that truly reflect consumer directed care needs being met

  6. Is there an estabished CVS CALD provider in metro Perth? Particularly for Croatian or Serbian citizens. Furthermore, I agree with Mark regarding the independent advocacy service.

  7. Red Cross provides the Community Visitors Scheme in the greater Sydney area (Nepean, Western Sydney, South West, South East and Inner West). We are currently accepting clients in these areas. Please contact the Sydney CVS team on 9229 4267 or cvsgreatersydney@redcross.org.au.

  8. The Community Visitors Scheme is delivered across Australia and is funded by the Australian Government. There are many organisations that auspice this scheme across Australia including CALD and LGBTI. Volunteers are matched to recipients and spend time to develop a friendship and offer companionship. An absolutely tremendous program.

    To find out which organisation delivers the CVS in your area please go to: https://www.dss.gov.au/ageing-and-aged-care/older-people-their-families-and-carers/community-visitors-scheme and a list of the state network members with contact details is available. We will be able to direct your enquiry to the provider closest to your aged care home.

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