Volunteer Community Visitor - Wynyard - North West Tasmania
Australian Red Cross- Time frame: ongoing (minimum 12 months)
- Time commitment: 1 hour per week
- Join the World's largest humanitarian network
The program
Having good social connections is essential for all aspects of health, especially as we age. Red Cross supports elderly residents of the community to improve their wellbeing and social connection by matching volunteers with an older person who lives in an aged care facility or at home, has identified as being lonely and has minimum contact with family and/or friends. Community visits have an important impact on the elderly person’s life: enhancing their sense of wellbeing, supporting good physical and mental health, promoting healthy ageing and making them more resilient to life’s knocks and challenges.
The opportunity
This role suits someone over the age of 18 who is a good listener and can commit to at least one hour a week for a social visit to an elderly person. What you do on your visit is up to you and who you are visiting: you might chat together, reminisce, listen to music, read the newspaper or play card games. Visits away from the aged care facility are welcome if the resident and volunteer are both happy to do so. The program allows for time off due to holidays and study requirements.
The impact
As a Community Visitor Volunteer, you’ll brighten the life of a lonely and isolated older person by offering them company and friendship. You’ll also brighten your own life: gaining satisfaction, enjoyment and personal development through your visits. Red Cross will ensure you have training, ongoing support and access to other opportunities within the World’s largest humanitarian network.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.