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Building friendships between the generations
Become a Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitor
Do you want to enrich the life of an older person who might be feeling isolated and lonely?
Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors is a service that connects volunteers with older Australians to reduce social isolation, provide companionship and improve quality of life.
Volunteers set aside time to visit their matched older person in their home or aged care facility on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Depending on the volunteer and the person they befriend, this time may be spent simply keeping each other company or taking part in various activities.
By getting involved in the Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors program, you can:
- provide a sense of worth and belonging to an older person
- minimise isolation of an older person in your community
- extend your social contacts
- have your own life enriched by hearing of the older person’s life experiences
- help build connected communities that meet the needs of people of all ages.
Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors currently operates across the northern, inner west, south west and western regions of Sydney, as well as the Central Coast, the Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Taree.
“Volunteering – it’s good for the soul. It makes me happy.”
Trevor
Wesley Mission volunteer for six years.
“Volunteering – it’s good for the soul. It makes me happy.”
Trevor
Wesley Mission volunteer for six years.
Get involved
It doesn’t take much to have a significant impact on someone else’s life. If you’d like to become a Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitor, we’d love to hear from you! You can call us on 0429 044 149, email visitors@wesleymission.org.au, or start the journey by entering your post code below.
Funded by the Australian Government.
Frequently asked questions
How do I qualify as a volunteer visitor?
No formal qualifications are required. You simply must be 18 years or older and have a caring, patient disposition. We’ll provide two hours of online training plus further training opportunities throughout the year. Your first introduction to your older person is facilitated by your Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Coordinator.
Do I need to be vaccinated?
This is dependent on public health orders. It is recommended that volunteers entering aged care facilities be vaccinated for flu and COVID-19. Those visiting older people in their homes should ask their preference.
Where do the older people live?
Currently, Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors has older people waiting to connect across the northern, inner west, south west and western regions of Sydney, as well as the Central Coast, the Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Taree. If you live outside these regions, similarly run programs can be found by visiting the Australian Government’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS) website.)
How often do I need to visit my older person?
The ideal commitment for a volunteer visitor is 12 months on a weekly or fortnightly basis, usually for around an hour on each visit. We encourage weekly visits to allow more flexibility for travel, illness or other commitments. Your visits don’t have to be on the same day every week. You can work out the most suitable days and times with your older person.
What do I do with my older person?
Your primary role is to provide companionship. With permission, you can take your older person out of their facility or home, for example to a café or park, but it’s not essential. If you’d like to take your older person out in your vehicle, you must first have permission from your Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Coordinator and provide a copy of your driver’s licence and comprehensive car insurance policy. You may wish to contribute in small ways to household tasks as a means of connecting, but we discourage you from performing chores or running errands as it may mask an unmet need for the older person. If you have concerns, please discuss this with your Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Coordinator.
Can I seek reimbursement for expenses?
We don’t offer reimbursements for expenses incurred while visiting your older person.
What do I do if I have holidays planned?
While your visiting times are arranged directly with your older person, if you’re taking a long holiday, we request that you let your Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Coordinator know in advance.
What do I do in a medical emergency?
Call 000. Please also notify your Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Coordinator once the emergency has been addressed.