Join the Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme and make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
Volunteer
Make a meaningful connection with an older person
Help an older person stay connected
Many older people feel isolated and lonely, whether they’re in an aged care facility or still living at home. This can affect health, happiness and general quality of life. Wesley Aged Care Volunteer Visitors is a scheme that connects volunteers with older people for friendship, companionship and regular visits to their home or facility.
By becoming a Wesley Aged Care volunteer visitor, you can give an older person something to look forward to, help them stay socially connected and enhance their wellbeing. With just an hour or two a fortnight – or more if you want – you can do something meaningful that will make a real difference to someone’s life.
Being a Wesley Aged Care volunteer visitor for an older person is a very special opportunity to connect with someone from a different generation and enhance each others’ lives.
Build new social networks
Expand your social contacts across different generations and make new friends.
Help an older person feel less isolated
Make an impact on someone’s life by reducing loneliness and helping them feel connected.
Learn from each other
Gain different perspectives that enrich your life by hearing about an older person’s experiences and the lessons they’ve learned.
Develop new skills
Get ongoing training in areas like grief and loss, suicide prevention and dementia.
Who can volunteer?
The ACVVS may be right for you if you are 18 or over, with an empathetic, warm nature and can commit to at least 12 months of regular fortnightly visits. We currently operate across the northern, inner west, south west and western regions of Sydney as well as the Central Coast, the Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Taree.
Our volunteers come from a range of different ages, genders and backgrounds. When you join the scheme, we will match you with an older person with similar interests.
How to apply
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Step 1ApplyCall us on 0429 044 149, email visitors@wesleymission.org.au or complete the enquiry form below.
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Step 2Police checkTo ensure the safety of the people we work with, you’ll need to complete a police check before your application can be approved.
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Step 3TrainingYou’ll receive initial induction training, which you can complete online and at your own pace.
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Step 4Sign code of conduct and role descriptionOnce your training is complete, review and sign your code of conduct and role description.
What people are saying
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Judith, living with dementia, recently moved into RACH Newcastle and struggled to make friends. When she met her Volunteer Visitor Ruby, 21, they instantly connected over Judith’s stories of traveling to places like Machu Picchu and the Pyramids. Inspired, Ruby immediately began thinking of ways to help Judith engage in group activities, showing how their time together will enrich both their lives.
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Setting Michael up with Liu has been great for both of them as Liu wants to learn about Australia and different cultures and Michael has a lot to say about his previous small business.
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One of our wonderful volunteers visits an Italian lady with deteriorating speech (she has Parkinsons). The woman pointed to the earrings the volunteer was wearing, which were a cross. This cued the volunteer to use her iPad to look up a mass in Italian … which brought the older person to tears. It obviously brought back memories and provided her some comfort at that moment.
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One of our volunteers, Jane*, has been visiting a client who is terminally ill with cancer. Initially, visits were limited due to the client’s condition, but the bond they’ve formed has grown so strong that visits are now weekly. Jane's warmth and kindness even brought the client out of a difficult day, transforming her mood from withdrawn to engaged and smiling. This connection has been truly uplifting for both the client and her husband, who marvels at the positive impact Jane's visits have made.
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Volunteering with Wesley Mission’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme has been an incredibly fulfilling and humbling journey. Each visit is a reminder of the profound impact that kindness, connection, and companionship can bring to someone’s life. Through this program, I’ve had the privilege of learning valuable skills that have deepened my understanding of care and empathy. The training provided by Wesley Mission has been an eye-opening experience, equipping me with the tools to make each interaction meaningful and respectful. I am deeply grateful to be part of an initiative that not only uplifts those we visit but also enriches the hearts of volunteers. This opportunity has truly been a gift, and I’m thankful for the chance to give back to the community in such a meaningful way.
Apply now
Call us on 0429 044 149, email visitors@wesleymission.org.au or complete the enquiry form to learn more about becoming a volunteer visitor.
