Intereach Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)

About Intereach:

Intereach is a not-for-profit community organisation committed to developing community infrastructure and supporting rural, regional and remote communities. For over 50 years, Intereach has been working throughout the Riverina-Murray region of NSW and northern and central Victoria to strengthen and support communities and to improve the social and personal wellbeing of children, families, older people, carers and people with disability.

Today, we span 38 local government areas and have more than 500 staff who deliver more than 30 programs. Our Vision of Strong Connected Communities is what drives us daily to ensure our local communities are at the heart of everything we do.

Intereach is proud to be one of 140 community organisations funded to deliver the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) to lonely or isolated older people receiving a government-subsidised Home Care Package (HCP) or those approved and on the National Priority System for HCP. Clients will receive at least 20 visits per year (approximately once per fortnight) through one-on-one in-person visiting.

Our role is to:

• recruit, train and support volunteer visitors
• conduct police checks for volunteers
• match volunteers to older people receiving aged care
• support the relationships that form between the volunteers and the people they visit.

About the Role:

An Aged Care Volunteer Visitor plays a vital role in improving the quality of life of a lonely or isolated older person aged >65 years receiving, or waitlisted for, an Australian Government funded Home Care Package (HCP). Volunteer visitors achieve this through providing ongoing companionship and friendship in the form of one-on-one, in-person social visiting in the older person’s home for approximately one hour per fortnight (20 visits per annum).

After completing an Intereach Induction Training session, you will be carefully matched to an older person near you. We match volunteer visitors to clients based on shared background, interests and hobbies as much as possible to encourage a mutually beneficial, long-term friendship. Activities undertaken may include having a cup of tea and a chat, listening to music, card games, walks, watching the footy or engaging in a shared hobby. If your client match is independent with personal care needs and is independently mobile, you may like to go out for coffee, visit a park or maybe visit your local community group to undertake a hobby or class together. The possibilities are endless!

Intereach has a dedicated team of staff to support you at every stage of the recruitment, onboarding and induction. The ACVVS Volunteer Team Leaders will support and assist with relationship establishment and maintenance and be your primary contact for any concerns you have about your volunteering role, the relationship or client welfare.

Requirements:

We encourage caring, compassionate and dedicated individuals, with good communication skills and a desire to help lonely older people in the community to apply. The time commitment is one hour per fortnight (approximately 20 visits per annum). No nursing or personal care is expected in this role.

You must be willing to undergo a police check (which Intereach will conduct on your behalf) and submit a criminal history statutory declaration if you have lived overseas for two years of more since the age of 16. We will assist you with this process.

You must be able to attend Induction Training at an Intereach office ahead of being matched with a care recipient. The Volunteer Team Leaders will work with you to find a suitable time/location to conduct the Induction.

What's in it for you?

Volunteer benefits include:

• a great organisational culture with regular social engagement and role support
• ongoing learning and development opportunities
• a fantastic Employee Assistance Program which is available to all volunteers and their immediate family
• Making a real difference in the lives of older people who are lonely or socially isolated, providing a sense of purpose and giving back to the community
• We value diversity and welcome applicants from all walks of life, ages, backgrounds, and cultures.

Ready to apply?

Applications can be submitted through our the Intereach website or via the Apply Now link.

For more information please contact: Human Resources on 1300 488 226 or volunteers@intereach.com.au for general enquiries. For further information related specifically to the role please contact Sarah Bartsh (NSW) on 0499 983 671 or Susan Devereaux (VIC) on 0499 984 629.

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