Aged care volunteers needed and resources available

Aged care volunteers are essential in our community.

You can help with hands-on tasks like gardening, meal delivery and driving a bus or simply just be there for a chat. You don’t need any qualifications or prior experience, just a willingness to help others.

Your contribution will support older people to improve their physical and mental wellbeing. You can also benefit from meeting new people, learning new skills and positively contributing to the community.

Start your volunteer journey and make a difference to an older person’s life by visiting health.gov.au/topics/aged-care/volunteers.

Aged care volunteering resources available

The Department of Health and Aged Care has created a one-stop-shop with resources, training links and helpful information to support volunteers, Volunteer Managers and aged care providers.

It includes information and guidance on:

• what to expect
• why aged care volunteers are important
• where to find volunteering opportunities
• eligibility requirements
• recruitment and retention
• training and support
• case studies
• innovations and best practice
• pathways into a career in aged care.

Downloadable materials such as frequently asked questions, booklets and toolkits are available on the department’s website.

Aged care volunteer visitors needed

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)supports regular in-person volunteer visits to give friendship and companionship to older people in your community.

Becoming an aged care volunteer visitor can be a rewarding and life-changing experience. You will make a friend, share stories and help someone who might be feeling isolated or lonely.

Volunteers usually visit for an hour once a fortnight at a time that suits you both. During a visit a volunteer and older person can do anything you both feel like doing, such as:

• enjoy a chat over a cup of tea
• take a walk
• work on a joint hobby together.

ACVVS volunteers do not undertake any clinical or home care duties as part of their visits.

Make this the year you volunteer and brighten the life of an older person in your community. Learn more at health.gov.au/acvvs.