Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)

Summary

Provide companionship while enjoying a range of activities with an individual or group.
MCM caters to the western, northern and inner-city suburbs.

Here at MCM we know the power of a coffee and a chat, sharing the love of a good book, gentle walks and great company. The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) in Victoria gives volunteers an opportunity to positively change someone’s life through friendship.

We’re seeking volunteers who can commit to building a friendship with an older person, who may be lonely and isolated. We support elderly people living in Government funded aged care homes or in their own home and receiving a home care package.

Volunteers can participate in the scheme in 3 different ways:

visit a person in an aged care facility
visit a person in their own home
visit two or more people in a group setting at an aged care facility

The ACVVS aims to reduce loneliness for the elderly and offer more social support and connectivity to the wider community.

Why should you volunteer with elderly people?

Becoming an aged care volunteer is incredibly rewarding. We carefully match you with an elderly person based on interests, background, location and life experiences to help ensure a long-lasting connection.

Your time is incredibly powerful and sharing it is one simple way you can make a difference to someone’s life.

My favourite part of volunteering is listening to the stories Eunice tells me from her past and seeing Eunice’s smile when I walk into her room. I really enjoy my time with Eunice and recommend others jump on board.

— Michael, ACVVS volunteer

To take part in this community visitor program, you need to:

be 18 years or over
be able to commit to weekly or fortnightly visits for at least 12 months (weekend visits are possible)
undergo a Police Check (and sign a Statuary Declaration if required)
undergo a screening process
attend one of our monthly induction sessions at our Fitzroy North site
be friendly, flexible and adaptable to change
live in or near the locations we cover

MCM covers the following suburbs:

Abbotsford	Alphington	Ascot Vale	Avondale Heights
Broadmeadows	Brunswick	Clifton Hill	Coburg
Coburg North	Collingwood	Coolaroo	Craigieburn
Essendon	Fawkner	Fitzroy	Flemington
Gladstone Park	Glenroy	Greenvale	Keilor Downs
Keilor East	Kensington	Maidstone	Meadow Heights
Melbourne North & East	Moonee Ponds	Northcote	Parkville
Pascoe Vale	Richmond	Roxburgh Park	Sunshine North
Sydenham	Thornbury	Westmeadows

*We also cover some surrounding areas for home visiting only.

Would you like to get involved?

To enquire or to apply to take part in the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) at one of our locations in Victoria, please complete the online expression of interest form.

For further information, please get in touch by calling 03 9486 8436.

We’ll send you an information pack and application form for you to look at and will happily answer any further questions.

FAQs

What skills/qualities do I need?
- Have an understanding, appreciation and respect for the elderly
- Be reliable and resilient
- Have fantastic listening skills
- Be confident in visiting independently
- Demonstrate good judgement
How much time do I need to commit?

Once matched, we expect volunteers to visit for at least 12 months. Minimum visits are fortnightly, but a weekly visit is encouraged, especially at the beginning to establish the friendship.
I work full-time, can I still volunteer?

Of course! The benefits of the ACVVS are that visiting your recipient can fit in with your schedule as well as theirs. Weekend visits can be easily arranged.

* Please note, you’ll need to be available for an introduction to a recipient during business hours, Monday to Friday, then flexible visits can continue.
What are my responsibilities as a volunteer?
When you join our Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) you'll be asked to agree that you can:
- visit a designated resident on a regular basis (at least once a fortnight)
- provide a record of dates of visits to the ACVVS Coordinator
- exercise a duty of care at all times for any activities with a resident
- inform the co-ordinator if you are experiencing any difficulties with visiting
- notify the co-ordinator of any accident or incident that occurs while you are visiting
- notify the co-ordinator if you are away or intend to stop visiting on a temporary or permanent basis
- inform the co-ordinator if you are away for more than four weeks, or wish to stop visiting a particular resident.
Do I need to report on my visits?

Yes, as a volunteer, you'll be required to fill in a quarterly report form. This gives us feedback about your visits and helps us know how often you've visited.
What can I not do as a volunteer?
As a volunteer, it's also important you understand the things you cannot do in the role:
- monitor standards provided at an aged care home
- be involved in investigating or following up complaints
- displace relationships between the resident and their family, staff or other relationships
- have access to residents' care or personal records or become involved in the financial affairs of the resident
- sign or witness any documents for or on behalf of the resident
- administer any medication to the resident
- provide nursing or personal care to the resident
- interfere with or have any involvement in the day-to-day running of the aged care home
- replace nursing, activities or therapy staff in aged care homes
- visit other residents without the approval of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) Co-ordinator.

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)

Summary

Why should you volunteer with elderly people?

Would you like to get involved?

FAQs

What skills/qualities do I need?

How much time do I need to commit?

I work full-time, can I still volunteer?

What are my responsibilities as a volunteer?

Do I need to report on my visits?

What can I not do as a volunteer?

MCM places people at the centre of what we do