AGED CARE VOLUNTEER       

               VISITORS SCHEME (ACVVS)

The Chinese Welfare services (CWS) Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) is funded by the Australian Government.

The ACVVS provides volunteer visitors to visit recipients of Australian Government subsidized aged care services (Aged care facility or home care package) who are socially isolated and whose quality of life would be improved by friendship and companionship.

The ACVVS is a free service to help older people maintain social connection

A matched volunteer will aim to visit for 1 hour, once a fortnight.

Visits can be:

·         one on one or small group visits to residential aged care homes; or

·         one on one visits to people receiving home care packages.

Additionally, when face to face visits are not possible, they stay connected with the care recipients through post cards, email, phone or video calls thus ensuring that they maintain the connection and support to our care recipients.

The ACVVS focusing on the needs of older people at a higher risk of being socially isolated that aims to provide friendship and companionship to older people and help develop social connections. These visits include some of the following activities.

§  Chatting in their home language

§  Sharing stories of life

§  Listening to their home country’s music

§  Reading their news together

§  Watching TV or movies together

§  Having a coffee or tea

§  Going for a walk around the facility or to a park

§  Cooking and sharing some of their country’s food

Who are the ACVVS visitors?

Visitors are volunteers who join their local service provider. All visitors receive basic training and must have regular police checks. Visitors are matched to a person based on their shared interests.

Register to receive a ACVVS visitor :

Regular visits from a community visitor can help to improve your quality of life and help you feel less socially isolated.

Volunteer as a ACVVS visitor :

Volunteering as a community visitor can be a rewarding experience. By becoming friends with an older person, you can make a positive difference to their lives as well as your own

If you are interested in joining us, either as a volunteer, or you may have a family member or friend in need of a Visitor, please contact Nikita Kwong on 08 8212 2988.