See how the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme creates lifelong friendships

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) (formally known as the Community Visitors Scheme) links volunteers with older people experiencing or at risk of social isolation.

Anyone who receives government-funded residential aged care or a Home Care Package can apply for visits through the free ACVVS program. This includes people who are approved and waiting for an aged care home or on the National Priority List for a Home Care Package.

Read Hans and Rahman’s story below to see how the ACVVS can help older people build new social connections within the community. And how the ACVVS can be a truly rewarding experience, for both recipients and volunteers.

How Hans and Rahman’s story began

After reading an article about the ACVVS in the local newspaper in 1992, Rahman decided to get involved and give volunteering a go.

Rahman was a new resident to Australia and always looked for opportunities to be more involved with his local community.

For Hans, getting involved with the ACVVS was a great opportunity to make residential life more enjoyable.

Finding more enrichment in life

Hans receives regular visits from Rahman. These moments are something that he looks forward to.

“It’s like it expands our meaning for living. We get great ideas for being together,” Hans said.

“It’s like it gives us all a purpose and reason for being here.”

A simple way to say thank you

Rahman said his experience volunteering greatly enriches his life and connection to the local community.

Hans is one of eight friendships Rahman developed through the ACVVS over a 30-year period of volunteering.

“The [ACVVS] is a simple way of saying thank you (to older people), we’re here for you because of what you’ve done for our nation and our community,” he said.

Rahman believes he’s a richer person for having been involved and that the ACVVS is unique in that it gives special recognition to older Australians who have helped build and strengthen our society.

“It’s our time to recognise them,” he said.

Watch the full story

To watch the full interview with Hans and Rahman, to find out how the ACVVS has transformed lives, visit the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care’s YouTube page.

To learn more about the ACVVS, including how to get involved, read our previous article Program in focus: Aged Care Volunteer Visitor’s Scheme.