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The Commonwealth Government, aged care industry peak bodies, and bodies that protect the rights and well-being of our seniors are active supporters of volunteers in aged care, ageing in place and community settings right across Australia.
Giving is an important part of our community connectedness no matter where we live, and actively helps older people continue to pursue hobbies and passion projects, speak their first language, enjoy the shared culture and bridge life experiences and age.
It is worth breaking open the breadth of contributions that can be made by any of us beyond sitting down and having a cup of tea with an older person (although that is certainly a valuable thing).
Depending on your skills, listed below are activities that you may consider worth exploring as a volunteer:
- Driving a vehicle for community transport or the bus for an outing
- Storytelling
- Listening to a person’s stories as they review a photo album.
- Converse in a language other than English
- Be a telecall supporter.
- Assisting an older person use FaceTime for contact with family far away.
- Reading something of the person’s choice to them. Poetry, magazines, or a classic novel from their youth.
Benefits you may get from a role volunteering are: Meeting new people and their families and friends
- Reducing your own sense of isolation and connectedness
- Learning new skills in empathy, communication, and teamwork
- Support a culture of kindness in the sector.
- Learning new things
- Gaining an additional opportunity for a reference for work opportunities
- Help build your resume.
- Gaining access to police clearance and working with vulnerable people checks sponsored by the host organisation.
- Research by Volunteering Australia suggests that volunteering gives a person a sense of purpose and a defined and meaningful role in society, especially for older people or people experiencing unemployment.
Source: Volunteering Australia - Key Volunteering Statistics
Becoming an aged care volunteer is easier than you might think.
- Look for positions online, aged care providers often advertise roles on their website.
- Apply for a role- you may have an interview to check your suitability.
- Wait for approval to volunteer.
- If you are successful, you will be required to undergo reference checks and other standard pre-employment checks.
- These may include a National Police Check and proof of your COVID-19 vaccination history.
- These pre-employment checks when used for volunteer positions may be at no cost to you.
See this publication to assist in recruiting volunteers from diverse language backgrounds.
- Dept of Health and Aged Care: Aged care volunteering and the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) booklet
- Dept of Health and Aged Care: ACVVS – Communication toolkit for people from diverse backgrounds and experiences
See this publication for intending volunteers from TAFE and University sectors.
See this publication to assist a resident in an aged care facility request a visitor by referral.
- Dept of Health and Aged Care: Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) – Care recipient referral form
Other neat ways to volunteer.
