What does a Community Visitor Do

As a community visitor you will be asked to set aside 30 minutes per week to pay a friendly visit to a resident of an Australian Government subsidised aged care home, or a person in their own home who is receiving a Government funded Home Care Package.
Some older people don’t have quality contact with friends, relatives or community. The Community Visitors’ Scheme (CVS) connects them with volunteers like yourself who can:

• Sit and chat about a wide range of interests
• Watch a favourite television program
• Work with them on a hobby
• Read to them or listen to music together
• Be a good friend who visits regularly

Who can be a Community Visitor

Anyone over the age of 18 and willing to volunteer time to provide friendship or companionship to an older person is welcome.

We’re looking for volunteers from all walks of life to build friendships with people who are at risk of social isolation. Social isolation can affect people from any background and you can be a part of the solution.

What skills do you need

The best skill you have will be to be yourself. You will receive training that gives you clear guidance on your role and how to conduct it appropriately. You will also have opportunities to up-skill in areas of interest. Your orientation will inform you of your rights and responsibilities as a volunteer. You’ll also receive ongoing support and encouragement where you can raise any concerns or issues freely and openly. We want you to feel comfortable delivering your visiting role.

As a starting point, ask yourself if you have:

• Genuine empathy
• Good communication and listening skills
• The ability to visit independently
• A commitment to developing a strong and ongoing relationship with an older person and to the CVS programme, and
• The ability to be flexible.

You must be willing to respect confidentiality, maintain professional boundaries and work within the policies and procedures of the UnitingCare Merimbula.

Locations needing Volunteers

There are many individuals across the NSW Far South Coast who would enjoy regular visits.

Locations in need of community visitors’ are:

• Bega
• Eden
• Merimbula
• Tura Beach

If your local area is not on this list, still get in touch with us at as often there are many more locations where we have people waiting for comunity visitors’.

For further information please contact our Coordinator by completing the fields below and we will contact you.