Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme
Is this the year you Volunteer?
We all need a friend
About ACVVS
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) supports regular in-person volunteer visits to give friendship and companionship to older people across the Hume Region.
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 the Hume Region.
As a volunteer you will need to:
- Undertake a National Police Check (organised and paid for by us)
- Undertake online training before commencing visits
- Commit to fortnightly visits
- Commit to 12 months of visiting
Volunteer Story: Ron and Fergus
Fergus visits Ron every week or two as a volunteer. They open up about the importance of building an intergenerational friendship and learning from each other.
Fergus: What did you think of me when we first met?
Ron: Intelligent young fellow. Great looking young fellow.
I haven’t got a daughter but certainly…
Narrator: Fergus is an aged care volunteer visitor.
Fergus: Hi Ron. How are you?
Ron: Good Fergus
Fergus: Good to see you.
Ron: Good to see you.
Narrator: Between studying for his degree, he pays regular visits to see Ron. Over the past few months they have built a strong friendship.
Ron: This is the fellow I look forward to seeing every week or two. He’s one young fellow who’s really up with it.
Fergus: Thank you.
Ron: And I don’t know what you thought about me.
Fergus: I think you’re probably like a bit of a duck. You look very calm on top. I hope I’m that positive when I get to 89.
Ron: I had the dietician came in yesterday. I said, “I’m worried about putting on weight. I’m cutting out ice cream. I’m still putting on weight.”
Fergus: I don’t think you have to worry.
Ron: It is a worry ’cause the trousers don’t fit!
Narrator: Friendships across generations have huge benefits for individuals and society. They offer unique perspectives and improve the mood and outlook for everyone involved.
Fergus: What’s good about having a friend with a big age gap?
Ron: It gives me an aspect of young people these days and how they think.
Fergus: You think of making friendships as kind of like something that mainly happens when you’re younger but it’s kinda nice to flip that on its head. I’ve been lucky to befriend someone who’s lived like a really positive and fulfilling life.
Ron: What was it that finally made you say that, “This year, I volunteer?”
Fergus: Well, I suppose like the reason I started volunteering was because I felt like I’d kinda spent a lot of time probably thinking a little bit too much about myself. That was kind of a good motivation to step out of my
comfort zone a little bit and explore volunteering. It’s been good fun. I’ve enjoyed it from the get-go.
Ron: No one’s told him he’s gotta volunteer.
Woman off camera: He’s a good bloke.
Ron: Just a good bloke.
Fergus: Thanks Ron.
Ron: It’s a good thing. Should be more of it.
Narrator: We’re looking for aged care volunteer visitors in your area. Go online and sign up today.
How to become a Volunteer
You can find more stories here
Please complete the form below to register your interest.
Contact Stacey or Paula to find out more on 1300 834 236 or email, acvvs@thecentre.vic.edu.au
Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme