What is the Community Visitors Scheme?

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) is a national program funded by the Commonwealth Government. The CVS aims to enrich the quality of life of residents of aged care homes who are socially isolated or lonely, and would benefit from a friendly visitor. The CVS also helps to establish links between people living in aged care homes and their local community. A community visitor is a volunteer who is matched with a resident of an aged care home, and visits them regularly.

What do Community Visitors Do?

As a community visitor, you need to commit to visiting your resident friend at least once a fortnight. Visits will be spent doing something you both enjoy - you might want to read, listen to music, chat and reminisce, or watch a favorite TV program together. You may want to go for a walk together or have an outing, The activities you undertake will depend on the health of the resident.

Sharing your time and your interests for just one hour a fortnight will be rewarded with the satisfaction of enhancing their quality of life and perhaps yours too!

Who would you visit?

Community visitors visit people living in aged care homes who have been identified as being lonely or socially isolated.

Community visitors are matched with residents by the Volunteering Central Coast (VCC), which supports you and helps you to adapt to your role as a community visitor. The VCC offer you training and support in understanding the needs of your new friend.

The VCC will endeavor to match you with a resident appropriately, taking into account your interests and background. In addition we take into account other factors - for example, when you are available to visit. Most community visitors find that they enjoy the friendship as much as the resident does, and that the relationship is both positive and rewarding.

If you would like to know more.

If you would like to know more about the CVS, or would like to become a community visitor you should e-mail Marilyn or Telephone: 4329 7122

The Community Visitors Scheme is an Australian Government initiative.