• Ongoing
• 1 hour per fortnight (Mon-Sun)

The program

Having good social connections are essential for all aspects of health, especially as we age. Red Cross supports older people who live alone or who have few social connections to help improve their wellbeing. 

The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) connects an older person living in their home or in an aged care facility that would like more social contact with a friendly volunteer visitor. 

Through your friendship you will assist an older person to maintain and grow community links – this might be through relaxed conversation, participating in shared interests or even going on outings together.

The opportunity

If you have a genuine interest in spending time with an older person and have the ability to communicate with people from a variety of backgrounds this will be the ideal role for you. Volunteers come from all walks of life and beliefs and are friendly, emotionally mature and want to make a difference to improve someone’s life.

Volunteers visit weekly or fortnightly to build trust and rapport so a long term friendship can develop. Holding a valid driver’s licence and a means of travel would be beneficial (as the person you visit may not live near public transport). All volunteers are asked to complete a National Criminal Check and agree to the CVS guidelines and Red Cross principles.

The impact

As part of CVS you will have the opportunity to learn an older person’s unique and irreplaceable history and knowledge and they have the opportunity to learn from you.

Feel rewarded as your visits brighten the life of an older person experiencing isolation and loneliness in our community. Gain valuable experience and utilise your social skills within the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

The Red Cross will be interviewing for this role in October. Training for the volunteer role is expected to take place in October-November. Applicants must be able to make themselves available for an interview and training on a weekday during business hours

Our COVID-19 safe practices

It’s vital you review our Red Cross COVID-19 requirements in the ‘Keeping everyone safe from COVID-19’ section here prior to applying.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.