Volunteering

Volunteer with Linked Community Services where you can make a difference
to people in your local community and enrich the lives of others.

Helping others is the most
rewarding experience

Linked has always had a strong volunteering culture with multiple opportunities available. We have over 100 volunteers at Linked, all of whom make an incredibly valuable contribution to the work that we do in our communities.

Drivers: Our volunteer drivers love helping our clients to maintain their independence by taking them out and about to the places they need to go.


Bus Attendants: Social outings are lots of fun and keep our clients connected to their community. We have several bus attendants who join these outings to help keep things running smoothly, and have fun along the way!
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Volunteer Visitors: Our Aged Care Volunteer Visitors play a vital role in improving the quality of life of older people through ongoing companionship and communication to ensure they feel socially connected to their community and have a sense of purpose and belonging.

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, or ACVVS for short, creates meaningful connections and strengthens healthy social wellbeing for older people through friendship and regular visits. Linked are the auspicing organisation for ACVVS across our whole region. ACVVS is a program funded by the Australian Government.

Apply to volunteer

Aged Care Volunteer
Visitors Scheme

How the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme Works

The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) is free and available to anyone who is a permanent resident in a Residential Aged Care Facility or receiving a Home Care Package, including those who are approved and waitlisted to receive either service or who are socially isolated. We refer to those receiving a visit as “Care Recipients”. The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is funded by the Australian Government.

Become an ACVVS Volunteer

Our volunteers through the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme have access to ongoing training and resources specific to their volunteer roles with new training opportunities to improve, develop and apply new skills under the ACVVS Community of Practice Portal, with the support and assistance of the Linked Community Services ACVVS team.

They are recruited, trained and supported by the Linked Community Services Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) team who are here to help. Aged Care Volunteer Visitors are carefully matched to a resident, group or care recipient who has similar interests and hobbies, and commit themselves to building long-term friendships, a minimum of one hour a fortnight with weekly visits encouraged.

Aged Care Volunteer visits are flexible, supportive and take into consideration the recipient’s health, cultures/traditions, mobility and wellbeing, with visits centered on enjoyment. The shared experiences between an Aged Care Volunteer Visitor and a Care Recipient can be as simple as a walk in the garden, reading together, listening to music, a scenic trip around your local area, watching a movie, baking together, an outing to the beach, playing a board game or jigsaw, fish and chips at the park or joining in the laughter of a group activity within a Residential Aged Care Facility.


Where the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) Services

Our Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) Aged Care Planning Regions are the Hunter and Mid North Coast areas, and covers geographical regions from South West Rocks to Newcastle with Linked Community Services offices situated in Port Macquarie, Taree and Port Stephens.

Apply to volunteer
Since joining Linked I have made many friends along the way. I enjoy the interaction …[it] brings me a lot of joy.
Lucy Hardy - Linked Volunteer

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Volunteer Visitor do?

As an Aged Care Volunteer Visitor, you support older people to strengthen social wellbeing through ongoing companionship and communication, to ensure they feel socially connected to their community and have a sense of purpose and belonging.

Volunteer Visitors are carefully matched to an older person based on shared interests and hobbies, establishing a long-term friendship. Visits are one hour a fortnight as a minimum, however weekly visits are strongly encouraged.

Who can be a Volunteer Visitor?

We welcome anyone over the age of 18 who is willing to volunteer their time to provide friendship and companionship to an older person to help improve their quality of life and reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. A key attribute is that you have an empathetic and kind heart to befriend a vulnerable elderly person.

How can I become a Volunteer Visitor and start making a difference?

Becoming an Aged Care Volunteer Visitor is a rewarding and life-changing experience. Head to the Resources section of our website to complete an expression of interest form or contact our dedicated ACVVS team today on 02 6583 8644.

Do I need to be vaccinated to be a Volunteer Visitor?

All personnel engaged under the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme must adhere to applicable state or territory medical directions with regards to vaccinations including, but not limited to Influenza and Covid 19. Contact our ACVVS Coordinator who can give details on current government regulations for visiting within a residential aged care home or private home setting on 02 6583 8644.

How can I become a Care Recipient (elderly person) or refer a loved one?

ACVVS is free and available to anyone who is a permanent resident in Residential Aged Care Home or receiving any level Home Care Package, including those approved and waitlisted to receive either service. You can start by completing the "ACVVS Care Recipient Profile Form" on our Resources page or if you require assistance, please contact the ACVVS team by phone 6583 8644, or email us at acvvs@linked.org.au.

I don’t live in the area but my elderly loved one could really benefit from having a regular visitor. What do I do?

We are more than happy to help. We accept referrals to the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) from family and friends of potential care recipients. Just give us a call and we will connect you with the ACVVS team.