Volunteer feedback wanted as visitor scheme nears launch

As Australia this week celebrates the millions of people who volunteer their time to help others, the government is surveying people about support and training for volunteers in aged care.

The Department of Health and Aged Care is seeking feedback from aged care volunteers, volunteer managers, and aged care providers on:

• the role and involvement of volunteers across the sector
• requirements for volunteer management and coordination
• motivations of volunteers and volunteer managers
• training needs, priorities and preferences of volunteers in the aged care sector
• the role and needs of volunteer managers
• successes and barriers in engaging and retaining volunteers.

The survey – which closes 26 May – can be accessed here.

New visitor scheme kicks off in six weeks

Meanwhile, the new aged care visitors program begins on 1 July. Called the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme, it replaces the Community Visitors Scheme – which has run for 30 years – and is a response to a recommendation of the aged care royal commission.

Similar to the CVS, the ACVVS will support volunteer visits to provide companionship to older people feeling lonely and isolated in home and residential aged care settings. However, the new scheme has been expanded to reach more people and deliver a high level of service support.

Visits are available to anyone who:

• receives government-subsidised residential aged care or Home Care Packages – including care recipients approved or on the National Priority System for residential aged care or home care packages
• is socially isolated.

A free service, the ACVVS focuses on the needs of older people at higher risk of becoming socially isolated.

These include:

• people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• people who live in rural or remote areas
• people who are financially or socially disadvantaged
• people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
• lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

The ACVVS funds organisations to:

• recruit, train and support volunteer visitors
• match volunteers to older people receiving aged care
• support the relationships that form between volunteers and the people they visit.

Volunteers visit at least 20 times a year. These can be one-on-one or group visits to residential aged care homes or one-on-one visits to home care clients.

Volunteers must be 18 years or over and undergo a criminal history check. To become an aged care volunteer visitor click here.

This year’s National Volunteer Week runs from 15 – 21 May 2023

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