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Community Visitors Scheme Volunteer – Melbourne

Australian Red Cross
Logo for Australian Red Cross
  • Time frame: ongoing
  • Time involved: Flexible days and hours, approx. 1hr weekly/fortnightly
  • People in other localities are still encouraged to apply
  • You will need to be available for a 30min phone interview and a 2hr virtual training session
  • Please respond to the skills and interests questions – a CV does not need to be attached
  • CVS Volunteers need to have received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine

Seeking volunteers to visit in Melbourne, specifically:

  • Inner northern suburbs (Northcote, Oak Park)
  • Inner western suburbs (Yarraville)
  • South-western suburbs (Williamstown)
  • Inner southern suburbs (South Melbourne, Elsternwick, Caufield)
  • Frankston area
  • South-eastern suburbs (Glen Waverley, Wheelers Hill)
  • Eastern suburbs (Ringwood, Croydon)
  • Emerald area

The program

Having good social connections is essential for all aspects of health, especially as we age. Red Cross supports older people who are feeling lonely or socially isolated through the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS), where we aim to improve their wellbeing and social connections. We do this by connecting older people who would like more social contact and who live in their home or in an aged care facility with friendly volunteer visitors.

You can help an older person through the simple act of spending time with them. Your friendship will assist them to overcome their loneliness, improve their wellbeing and maintain and grow community links – this might be through relaxed conversation or participating in shared interests and hobbies.  

The opportunity

If you have a genuine interest in spending time with an older person, and have the ability to connect with people from a variety of diverse backgrounds, then this is the ideal role for you! With conversation skills second to none, your friendliness and kindness will help you to engage with people who may be experiencing loneliness. Having an understanding of the complex health issues faced by people as they age will help you to better empathise with your participant. Being mature, reliable and confident, you will be able to work independently without direct supervision, seeking support and guidance as required.

Volunteers connect weekly or fortnightly with their participant to build trust and rapport so a long term friendship can develop. Visits may take the form of face to face contact, phone calls, and other virtual means, based on preferences of both the volunteer and the participant.

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 will need to complete a National Criminal Check, agree to the CVS Guidelines and Red Cross Principles. You may also be required to have the flu vaccination as a condition of entry to some aged care facilities.

The impact

As a Community Visitor, you’ll brighten the life of an older person experiencing isolation and loneliness in our community. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from their unique history and knowledge, and they will have the opportunity to learn from yours. As well as feeling the satisfaction of giving to another, you’ll also be gaining a friend.

Red Cross will ensure you have training, ongoing support and access to other opportunities within the world’s largest humanitarian organisation.

Our COVID safe practices

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

Red Cross strives to create a safe and inclusive culture with wellbeing at its centre. We embrace diversity and welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people with different lived experiences, abilities, gender, ethnicity, age, and sexual orientation. We are a child safe organisation with zero tolerance of any harm to children. Our vision is to be trusted as the leading humanitarian organisation making a genuine difference in the lives of people and communities.

Thank you for considering volunteering at Red Cross. We also have great career opportunities.

You can not apply for this role as it is no longer available.