108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
For five years, Ursula Lueg has been brightening the lives of older Australians as a volunteer with IMPACT Community Services through the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS).
The Australian Government-funded program connects volunteers with older people experiencing social isolation, whether in their own homes or in residential aged care, offering companionship through regular visits.
With many older Australians experiencing loneliness, programs like ACVVS play a vital role in building connection and community across Bundaberg and the North Burnett.
For Ursula, it was her friend and former IMPACT ACVVS Coordinator Heather Hinsbey who first encouraged her to get involved. At the time, Ursula was hesitant, unsure if she had the time to commit.
Now, five years on, she says the experience has given her far more than she expected.
“It helps me to stay open,” Ursula said. “I'm not just concentrating in my own little world.”
“I personally have a few neighbours I visit for myself, who are elderly people.
“I will just knock on the door and say, are you okay? Do you need anything?”
Through her volunteering, Ursula has found connection in more ways than one, not just within her Bundaberg community, but also with her German heritage.
A year after falling in love with Australia as a German tourist in 1979, Ursula decided to make our country her home. Her German roots make Ursula a perfect match for local German seniors who wish to speak their first language during visits.
Ursula’s first match was with a German woman who had lost her husband and was struggling with loneliness. Ursula visited her at her home, where they’d often settle in the backyard with coffee and a bite to eat.
Next, she was matched with Yvonne, a woman living in a residential aged care facility. Ursula said that Yvonne’s poor hearing made it challenging to connect at first, but Heather soon came to the rescue with a hearing device.
“I put it on and you could see her eyes lights flicker,” Ursula said.
“I could ask her questions. She was so sweet.”
When Yvonne passed away, it deeply affected Ursula. That’s where IMPACT’s training plays a crucial role, helping volunteers understand their boundaries, navigate grief and care for themselves.
Ursula pushed through this tough chapter and came out stronger. She now visits James, a mutual dog owner and lover.
She said that James asked her to bring her dog, Charlie, along to their catchups, and the rest is history.
“There isn't a much easier way to connect than through a dog,” Ursula said.
“I say we’re going to visit James and Charlie looks up, hops in the car and knows exactly where we're going because he gets beautiful little treats.”
To those considering volunteering, Ursula’s message is crystal clear: it’s worth it.
IMPACT asks that volunteers visit once per fortnight at a minimum. Ursula said that while young people are busy with their work and social lives, ACVVS can easily fit into their schedules and teach them valuable life lessons along the way.
“Young people would learn to respect and see that older people are not just old,” Ursula said.
“They have a wealth of experience and humour, and they're not taking things so seriously anymore.”
Whether volunteer visitors and seniors play board games, listen to music or reminisce about days gone by during their time together, it’s time well spent.
Funded by The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme is for everyone, young, old and in-between.
Anyone with as little as an hour a fortnight can make a difference.
To become a volunteer visitor and help bring connection to someone in your community, visit www.impact.org.au/support-and-wellbeing/volunteer
IMPACT Community Services is excited to welcome Peter Proctor as the new Coordinator of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) in Bundaberg.
Peter brings over 20 years of experience in community service, having worked across diverse areas including family support, mental health, migration, disability, carers and government. Most recently, he served as an aged care assessor, a role that deepened his understanding of the needs of older Australians.
“Taking on this role is a great opportunity to continue working in the aged care field, but this time with a focus on friendship and connection,” Peter said.
“Supporting volunteer visitors to make friends and build meaningful connections with local older people is very unique, and I’m so happy to take on this opportunity.”
IMPACT has delivered the ACVVS program for 33 years, providing companionship to older adults who may be experiencing loneliness or isolation, whether they live in aged care facilities or in their own home.
Volunteers are matched with individuals and visit regularly, offering conversation, connection and care. The program is flexible, allowing volunteers to choose when and how often they visit.
Peter steps into the role following the retirement of Heather Hinsbey, who coordinated the program for 16 years. Heather’s dedication and heartfelt leadership helped build ACVVS into a trusted and valued service in the Bundaberg region.
“Heather’s work created a supportive environment that benefited countless residents and volunteers. I’m honoured to continue her legacy.”
Heather will continue to be part of the program as a volunteer, sharing her kindness and wisdom with the community she’s served so well.
Peter is especially encouraging younger people to get involved in the program.
“Volunteering with ACVVS is a powerful way to give back and learn from older generations,” he said.
“If you’ve got an hour a week and a willingness to connect, we’d love to hear from you.”
To learn more or sign up to become a volunteer, email acvvs@impact.org.au or contact Peter on 0457 356 373 or 4236 3654.
What does it take to change lives? Sometimes, all it takes is an opportunity.
Four years ago, Debbie Bailey moved with her husband to Bundaberg from the Gold Coast, leaving behind her family and the life she knew.
In a new town without friends to turn to, she reflected on the times she had visited her father in nursing homes and the loneliness she had seen among so many of the elderly there.
So, when she spotted an IMPACT Community Services’ advertisement for volunteers to connect with elderly people in Bundaberg’s aged care homes, she saw an opportunity to achieve two goals – connect with lonely people and build new friendships for herself.
"I just love that I can give back to people,” Debbie said recently as she attended a morning tea to recognise IMPACT’s team of Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) volunteers.
“I don’t feel my age…I still feel young, and that’s how these people feel too. Getting involved and spending time with them helps you appreciate how much they still have to offer, as people, just like you and me. That’s what I get out of volunteering.”
Not only did ACVVS provide an opportunity for Debbie but also her granddaughter, Lilly, who had followed her grandparents to Bundaberg after finishing school.
Together, Debbie and Lilly decided to volunteer at Grace Haven. For Lilly it was the start of a new journey. Having enjoyed her volunteering role, she enrolled in an Aged Care course with IMPACT.
She was then able to build on the relationships she had at the facility on her work placement, which was part of the course, eventually securing a job immediately on the course completion.
"IMPACT changed Lilly’s life. It's hard for young people to know what they want to do, so if it wasn’t for this, then she might have never known," Debbie said.
Debbie also praised the dedication and commitment of IMPACT staff, who go beyond to provide support.
If you want to become a volunteer, visit the ACVVS page on our website or call 1800 179 233.
IMPACT Community Services is proud to celebrate the incredible contributions of its Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) volunteers with a special morning tea today, recognising their dedication as part of National Volunteer Week 2025.
Volunteers from Bundaberg, Childers, Gin Gin, Gayndah, and Monto have made a profound difference in the lives of older community members, offering companionship and connection to those at risk of social isolation. Each year volunteers complete thousands of visits—each one a moment of kindness, conversation, and care.
Today’s event honours these selfless individuals, many of whom have volunteered for several years.
“Our volunteers are the heart of this program,” said Heather Hinsbey, IMPACT’s ACVVS Coordinator. “Their presence brings joy, comfort, and a sense of belonging to so many."
“Every visit our volunteers make is a reminder that someone cares."
“Their time and compassion help build lasting friendships and bring light into the lives of older people who may otherwise feel forgotten.”
To learn more about becoming an ACVVS volunteer, visit www.impact.org.au or call 4153 4233.
Raymond Toms began his journey into aged care with trips from Fiji to Australia, where he volunteered up to twice a year for three months at a time through IMPACT Community Services’ Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS).
His time as a volunteer not only brightened the lives of residents but also deeply impacted his own life and career. The ACVVS gave him a chance to form meaningful connections, explore new paths, and make a genuine difference in the lives of older people.
Visits were filled with heartfelt conversations and shared stories.
“The highlight of my experience,” he recalled, “was seeing their smiles and knowing I’d made a difference.”
The connections he formed and the life stories he heard were invaluable, giving him a new perspective on life and grounding him in ways he hadn’t anticipated.
Inspired by his volunteering experience, Raymond pursued a Diploma in Aged Care Nursing in Fiji. However, when he sought employment in Australia, he discovered that his qualifications didn’t meet Australian standards.
Undeterred, he returned to Fiji, completed a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), and then earned a Certificate III in Aged Care from a college in Sydney.
This determination paid off, and Raymond has now been working in the aged care industry for four years, with each step rooted in his volunteering experience.
Raymond’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the impact volunteering can have on young people. “Just do what your heart tells you and go for it,” he said, encouraging others to follow his path.
“It’s incredibly rewarding.”
Volunteering not only provided him with invaluable experience but also shaped his career and personal growth.
For young people wanting to make a difference, the ACVVS offers a chance to create meaningful connections and discover new life paths.
Raymond’s journey shows that volunteering can open doors to unexpected opportunities, fostering a sense of purpose, growth, and community along the way.
Interested in volunteering? Contact IMPACT Community Services Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme Coordinator on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233 to find out more and start making a difference today! Volunteers are needed in the Bundaberg, Childers, Monto, Gin Gin, Gayndah, Mt Perry, and Biggenden areas.
IMPACT Community Services held an end-of-year event for the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) on 6 November 2024, celebrating volunteers from Bundaberg, Childers and Gin Gin. The event brought together these dedicated individuals to thank them for their remarkable contributions throughout the year.
In January – September 2024, ACVVS volunteers provided over 5,600 visits to older people in Bundaberg, Gin Gin, Childers, Gayndah, and Monto, offering companionship and connection to those who might feel socially isolated.
At the celebration, IMPACT recognised the dedication of volunteers with service awards, honouring those who have generously given their time to ACVVS for 1, 2, 5, and 10 years. All other volunteers received appreciation certificates, with some having served more than 10 and even 20 years.
IMPACT Managing Director Tanya O’Shea, Health and Support General Manager Nancy Oosterhof and ACVVS and ACVVS Coordinator Heather Hinsbey expressed their gratitude at the event.
"Our volunteers are the heart of this program. Their dedication has brought joy and comfort to hundreds of older people in our community,” Heather said.
“Through simple acts of kindness - sharing a conversation, playing a game, or just being there to share a cup of tea, our volunteers create connections that truly uplift the spirits of those they visit.
“Our volunteers also play a vital role in sharing stories across generations, preserving valuable life lessons and experiences that might otherwise be lost.”
This annual event serves as a special thank you to our volunteers, acknowledging the significant difference they make in the lives of local seniors. Each visit fosters meaningful relationships and enhances the wellbeing of those older people in our community who may suffer from loneliness.
The End of Year Celebration for our Gayndah and Monto volunteers will be held separately.
For more information on how to get involved, please contact IMPACT on or 4154 4233 or visit the ACVVS page on IMPACT's website.
Last week, IMPACT Community Services' ACVVS volunteers were celebrated with a special (belated) National Volunteers Week morning tea, acknowledging their invaluable dedication to enriching the lives of the elderly, who often confront isolation and loneliness.
The event also featured an information session with special guest speaker Anne Kerby from Bundaberg Regional Council’s Disaster Management Team.
Anne's presentation focused on Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP), a critical method designed to help individuals, especially seniors and those with disabilities, better prepare for emergencies through planning and access to vital resources and guidance.
Participants were also gifted with an Emergency Kit Starter Pack, complete with a planning workbook, wireless radio, mini first aid kit, headlamp, batteries, and more.
The P-CEP method is a tool that enhances equitable access to effective emergency planning for individuals with extra support needs, such as the elderly and people with a disability. It empowers people with disabilities and the elderly to identify and plan for managing their unique needs during emergencies. Furthermore, it encourages everyone to help remove barriers that heighten risks to safety and well-being during disasters.
Key highlights of the P-CEP method include:
Learn more about Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness on the Bundaberg Regional Council website here.
ACVVS is an initiative funded by the Australian Government, designed to address the social and emotional needs of older Australians residing in aged care facilities, by connecting dedicated volunteers with seniors who may be experiencing social isolation or loneliness. Volunteer opportunities are available in Bundaberg, Monto, Gayndah, Childers, Mount Perry, and Gin Gin. Get in touch today! Call Heather on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233 or visit IMPACT's ACVVS page here.
Stroke survivor Rob Vinson has music back in his life again thanks to AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) volunteer Anita Ferry.
A previously talented and active member of the Bundaberg community, Rob’s life ground to a halt after suffering a stroke in February of 2020. The blow to his health came just months after the passing of his beloved wife, Margaret, who he cared for during the last 13 years of her life.
Previously heavily involved in local music as both a singer and pianist, the stroke left Rob unable to use his left side, turning his life upside down overnight.
Before his stroke, Rob, a former tax consultant, also enjoyed painting, knitting, crochet, ceramics, and cross stitch. He was also a talented wedding cake baker and decorator, dressmaker and a champion ballroom dancer.
“I lost everything,” he said.
Rob went from living an active life in the local community to being stranded at home, and he fell into a deep depression. Through the Aged Care Assessment Team, Rob was put in touch with IMPACT Community Services’ AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) Coordinator Heather Hinsbey and was asked if he would like someone to visit him.
The AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) pairs volunteer visitors with elderly people in the community and aims to combat social isolation and loneliness.
Heather and her team paired Rob with Anita and the rest, as they say, is history.
“Having Anita visit has meant everything,” Rob said.
“Anita has got me out of depression, and I really look forward to her visits.”
Anita brought music back into Rob’s life, playing the keyboard and singing with him as well as sharing morning teas, playing Scrabble and helping with whatever she could.
Recently during her visiting time Anita has helped Rob to sort through items in his house, organising many donations to op shops and local libraries.
“Whilst sorting through the items it was like going down memory lane for Rob, and I learned so much about Rob and the things he’s done and people he has known,” Anita said.
“He’s such an interesting man. I come here and I learn things. He’s an amazing man,” she said.
Anita has also joined Rob in making Christmas dinner several years in a row.
“If I can help, I do it. I admire him so much,” she said.
Rob said that being part of the AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) and having Anita visit has changed his life.
“Having Anita visit has been a world changing experience for me,” Rob said.
“I really look forward to Anita’s visits, she’s one in a million!”.
Anita, who has volunteered in different capacities for her whole life, said she loved giving back to the community and encouraged everyone with a spare hour a week to get involved in the AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ).
“It’s so joyous to meet these wonderful people that you wouldn’t meet otherwise,” she said
Rob has gotten so much out of being a recipient of Community Visitors’ Scheme visits that he has asked if it is possible to help other people suffering from social isolation by being a phone companion.
“I might not be able to play a game or anything like Anita does, but I could brighten someone’s day by being on the other end of the phone,” he said.
AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) Coordinator Heather Hinsbey said the scheme was currently looking for new volunteers.
“If you have a spare hour a week and would like to make a new friend, please consider volunteering with IMPACT Community Services’ AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ),” she said.
“Our volunteers take great pride in becoming a regular friendly visitor and enriching the quality of life of these people. Perhaps you’ll enjoy having a game of cards, listening to music, playing a board game, taking a short walk outside, help to write letters, reminisce about days gone by or simply have a chat and a cuppa.”
Heather said volunteers are asked to visit a minimum of once a fortnight doing something both the visitor and recipient enjoy.
Volunteer opportunities are available in Bundaberg, Monto, Gayndah, Childers and Gin Gin.
If you’d like to know more about volunteering, call Heather on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233.
Yvonne Spokes knows what it’s like to be lonely. That’s why two years ago she joined the AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) run by IMPACT Community Services. Yvonne, who is also a member of a walking group, was looking for something more in her life when she first heard about the scheme, which connects volunteer visitors with elderly people in the community. Excited to ease the loneliness in someone else’s life, she immediately signed up and was paired with Barbara Wheeler, now aged 96.
The two hit it off immediately and have formed a very special bond. Through their weekly visits they have introduced their families to each other and support one another through the highs and lows of life.
Barbara said she was surprised when asked if she’d like a visitor, but Yvonne’s visits have been life-changing.
“[I was] asked one day if I’d like a visitor, and I said yes please so Yvonne started to visit and we’ve become very close friends,” she said.
“She has made so much of a difference to my life. I used to talk about the things I didn’t like in my life, but Yvonne has taught me to stop doing that and to live in the moment. Now I live for each day. She’s like a light when she comes into the room, and I always get a hug!”
Interviewing the pair together, the special bond they have developed since joining the Community Visitor Scheme is clear. They both smiled as they reflected on their shyness the day they met, however they soon overcame this and formed a friendship like no other.
“After Yvonne came and we started to talk, it made me feel like I still have a place in the world,” Barbara said.
Yvonne says she looks forward to their weekly visits as much as Barbara does, and has found comfort in the strong connection the two have formed.
“For me, it’s like having my mother back again,” she said.
“We can say anything to each other… we’ve found that we’ve led very similar lives and we have a lot in common!”.
This month, the Community Visitor Scheme is celebrating it’s 30 year anniversary. The program links visitors with older people who live at home and receive an aged care package or live in an aged care facility and aims to combat social isolation in the elderly. There are currently 125 volunteer visitors taking part in the program visiting people in Bundaberg, Childers, Gin Gin and North Burnett.
Program manager Heather Hinsbey said IMPACT welcomes volunteers aged 18 and over to join the program.
“If you have a little spare time, would like to make a new friend and change someone’s life for the better then we’d love to talk to you about joining our Community Volunteer Scheme,” Mrs Hinsbey said.
“We will partner you with an older person who is experiencing social isolation, so you can make regular visits either in their home or aged care facility. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make a real difference in someone else’s life, and both the visitors and older people can benefit from each other’s life experiences and wisdom,” she said.
The AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) provides a regular familiar face for an aged person to interact with, whether that be with a cuppa and a chat, board game, or even walk.
The program ask that volunteers visit a minimum of once a fortnight and spend time doing something you both enjoy.
For more information on the scheme, call Heather on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233. You can read more about volunteering with the AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) here.
At just 24 years old, Ariah Goodluck is leading the way for young people to help combat social isolation and connect with society’s older generation.
The young electrician recently joined IMPACT Community Services’ AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ), a friendship program that links volunteer visitors with people living in aged care facilities or who receive in-home care throughout the Bundaberg and Burnett regions.
Ariah’s enthusiasm is infectious, and several of her friends and family members are also planning to volunteer in the program, which aims to tackle social isolation in older people.
The television show Old People’s Home for Teenagers inspired Ariah to join the program, with the content hitting close to home as she regularly observes elderly family members losing friends and family and attending funerals.
While she hasn’t yet made her first visit, Ariah said she was looking forward to forging a new friendship and benefiting from the wisdom the older generation has to offer.
“I saw the difference [the friendships] made on the show and… it’d be nice to bring a bit of light to people,” she said.
Ariah is encouraging others to get involved in the AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ), with friends, her mother and even her 93-year-old grandmother keen to join. Her grandmother, who is part of her inspiration for taking part in the scheme, is teaching her to play cards in preparation for her visits once she is matched with a participant.
Ariah said she feels it’s important to reduce loneliness in older people, and by taking part in the scheme she hopes to allow them to feel like they have family again.
“For the small amount of time you can give, you can make a big impact in someone’s life,” she said.
Scheme coordinator Heather Hinsbey said she would love to see more young people involved in the AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ), as they have different skills and life experiences to bring to the table, including the ability to share knowledge of technology.
Heather said: “We ask that you visit a minimum of once a fortnight spending time doing something you both enjoy.”
“You might like to go for short walks outside, play card games, help to write letters or even just have a cuppa and a chat,” she said.
IMPACT’s AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) celebrates 30 years this year and is a valuable community volunteering opportunity that has been improving the lives of our isolated older people. Volunteer opportunities are available in Bundaberg, Monto, Gayndah, Childers and Gin Gin.
Interested in volunteering? Call Heather on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233.
If you’re looking for a place to start on that New Year’s resolution or desire to give back to the community, IMPACT Community Services’ AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) is here for 2022.
And we’re looking for more volunteers to join our dedicated team.
The ACVVS is a friendship program linking volunteer visitors with people who are isolated at home or live in aged care facilities throughout the Bundaberg and Burnett regions.
For ACVVS coordinator Heather Hinsbey, the world of volunteering is among her passions rather than simply a job.
When Heather took up the ACVVS role in 2014, she had an understanding of the importance of a program which sought to provide connection, conversation, and compassion for the elderly who were in great need of company.
Not long after her mother passed away, Heather started volunteering too.
“It was therapeutic for me,” she said.
Heather said, “they were like mums”, full of understanding and they had many pearls of wisdom.
While she probably would have found her way to volunteering eventually, Heather said it was beneficial for her when she did.
She said volunteering was rewarding in many ways, particularly in gaining perspective, and even developing as a person.
Through ACVVS volunteering Heather said you gain an appreciation for what people have been through and how they have paved the way for future generations.
Heather said the ACVVS team was always looking for more people to join.
She also encouraged anyone with a culturally and linguistically diverse background with compassion for older people and an interest in volunteering to contact IMPACT.
She said people can be very socially isolated and this can be amplified for people with a different cultural background and if there’s a language barrier.
The ACVVS team has volunteers throughout Bundaberg, Gin Gin, Childers, Gayndah and Monto.
ACVVS provides a regular familiar face for an aged person to interact with, whether that be with a cuppa and a chat, board game, or even walk.
The program ask that volunteers visit a minimum of once a fortnight and spend time doing something you both enjoy.
Heather said the volunteers love what they do. Some have multiple people they visit!
If you would like to start the new year with some volunteering, call 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233.
For more information click here.
By Tanya O'Shea, IMPACT Community Services' Managing Director
"STRONGER TOGETHER" is a weekly column where Tanya explores key issues. This week Tanya focuses on volunteering and IMPACT's AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ).
As human beings we often need a sense of connection and community.
While solitude can be a form of relaxation and peace for some, social isolation for extended periods of time can have adverse impacts on one’s mental health.
This time of year in particular can be a very lonely time for people in our community who, for a range of different circumstances, are without close family and friends to spend time with.
But IMPACT Community Services volunteers are dedicated to ensuring they aren’t alone.
And we’re looking for more people to help us make a difference.
The AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) is a friendship program linking volunteer visitors with people who are isolated at home or live in aged care facilities throughout the Bundaberg and Burnett regions.
The value of friendship and community interaction is truly priceless – as human beings, having a sense of belonging and self-esteem are significant factors of our needs and mental health.
If your mental health starts to be impacted, your sleep quality may be reduced, as can your self-care, while you may experience increased feelings of anxiety and/or notice a change in your behaviour.
Friendship and positive social interaction can improve self-esteem, stress management, confidence, and even moments of joy and laughter.
As a ACVVS volunteer your presence truly is a present.
Whether you’re there to have a cuppa and a chat, play a boardgame, listen to music or go for a short walk, you could be enriching the quality of life for the people you visit.
ACVVS provides a regular familiar face for an aged person to see and gives them something to look forward to.
The program ask that volunteers visit a minimum of once a fortnight and spend time doing something you both enjoy.
Volunteer opportunities are available across the region in Bundaberg, Monto, Gayndah, Childers and Gin Gin.
If you’re looking to find a way to volunteer and give back to your community, the AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) may be the perfect way for you to spend your time.
Regardless of skill set, we love engaging with people with varied backgrounds and welcome all volunteers as valued members of our team.
Call our ACVVS coordinator Heather on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233 to get involved.
It takes someone with a big heart to spend their time volunteering to help others.
And IMPACT Community Services’ AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) is full of those people.
Recently the ACVVS held its annual celebration where dozens of volunteers were recognised for their contribution to the program and most importantly the lives they impact.
The AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) is a friendship program linking volunteer visitors with people who are isolated at home or live-in aged care facilities throughout the Bundaberg and Burnett regions.
Having run for more than two decades, the program asks that you are able to visit a minimum of once a fortnight and spend time doing what you both enjoy.
Whether that be a game of cards, listening to music, playing a board game, taking a short walk outside, help to write letters, reminisce about days gone by or simply have a chat and a cuppa.
Simply having a presence can make the world of difference and ensure someone doesn’t feel isolated and alone.
Among the presentation were Certificates of Designation, 1 Year Certificates, a 5 Year presentation, two 20 Year milestones and one 25 Year award.
Those who attended the celebration were also treated to two live performances.
Barry Bishop sang two songs which captured the essence of friendship and togetherness which the program prompts.
While Melody the clown had just about everyone on their feet dancing before lunch was served.
For anyone thinking about volunteering, there are ACVVS opportunities available across the region in Bundaberg, Monto, Gayndah, Childers and Gin Gin.
Regardless of skill set, ACVVS love engaging with people with varied backgrounds and welcome all volunteers as valued members of our team.
Call our ACVVS coordinator Heather on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233 to get involved.
“We pretty much just fell into volunteering,” Desley said during Volunteer Week. “I was visiting a friend and Charmaine asked if I would visit someone else as well. Doug kind of just got ‘dragged along’.”
Desley has a long history of volunteering. She grew up the daughter of a Rotarian in a Christian family, and they were taught to give back to the community and make it a better place for everyone.
“For us, the Christian principles of loving, respecting and caring were just the way life was for our family,” she said.
“My Dad, especially, was a very church and community-minded man.”
Today, Doug and Desley volunteer for a number of different reasons.
“A very large part of it is how good it makes us feel to give pleasure to someone else,” Desley said.
“There are some truly amazing people living in aged care. They have had fantastic and interesting lives sometimes, and sometimes they are just lovely people to know. And they are so very grateful for your care and attention. It makes you feel really good.”
Desley says that as retirees, it could be so easy to just vegetate and in due course feel no longer useful or needed. But volunteering gives them a sense of purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and a feeling of being needed, loved and appreciated.
Even while COVID-19 restrictions were in force, Doug and Desley kept up their friendships, albeit at a distance.
They built a fish tank and stocked it with goldfish and installed it in their garden, ran a raffle with the help of a local business, helped from outside the facility to run "The Monto Show Day", and produced numerous letters, signs, banners and patchwork quilts to keep in touch with their friends.
“It's a feeling of being valuable in someone else's life.” Desley said. “And, believe me, there is nothing better than feeling needed, loved and wanted."
"We love our Timber Time group. The camaraderie around the table when all the ladies have paint on their hands, and the men are chucking off at them, and we are laughing at something funny or someone's memory of other times, makes something we all treasure.
“Also the pleasure we all get when we look at the Christmas and Easter decorations that we have made together and the folks are so proud of, and the joyful greetings from so many when we walk into the room. The lovely, handmade thank-you cards they sent us in Seniors Week will be treasured forever.”
Desley has the perfect advice for people thinking about becoming a volunteer.
“Everyone has a choice - whether to be a user or a giver. If you are a user, you live in a community, make use of what is offered, but do not contribute or give anything of yourself. If you are a giver, you'll be run off your feet. Too busy to be lonely. Too valuable to be overlooked or forgotten.”
If you're not sure how to begin, she offers this advice:
“Anything that interests you interests someone else. Find that someone else and you have made a friend. Friends are very precious. You can't have enough of them,“ she said.
“Volunteering in an aged care facility is probably the most rewarding job either Doug or I have ever had, or are ever likely to have.”
Call IMPACT’s AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) Program Coordinator Heather Hinsbey on 0448 035 891 or 07 4153 4233.
By Tanya O'Shea, IMPACT Community Services Managing Director
Our senior citizens make up a large part of our community in Bundaberg.
It’s important that the generations who helped build our region to what it is today are still treated as valued members of the community.
That’s where our AGED CARE VOLUNTEER VISITORS SCHEME (formerly Community Visitor's Scheme ) shines bright.
IMPACT’s ACVVS program has been operating in the Bundaberg region for over 28 years and provides much needed companionship to older citizens.
Loneliness has been linked to premature death and poor physical and mental wellbeing.
Statistics from 2018 show that instances of Australians experiencing loneliness increased from the age of 70, from 13% of the population to almost 20% in those aged 80 or over.
Caring for others has been identified as an important safeguard to prevent or reduce loneliness, which is why our ACVVS program is so vital.
Visits can assist in several ways, and they don’t always have to be in person.
This offers a compromise in times of COVID restrictions, a flu of any outbreak, or when a volunteer falls within a high-risk health category.
Visit an elderly person with IMPACT's ACVVS program
While many of our volunteers visit the elderly in their homes or aged care facilities, some of our visitors are trialing online communications through digital tablets.
We also offer these digital tablets as a way to play games and encourage friendships to flourish between the resident and volunteer.
Reading a book, listening to music or playing a board game are also very rewarding ways to spend time with an elderly person.
Virtual Reality headsets are another method we are trialing through ACVVS.
Many of our elderly can no longer travel great distances, and VR provides a glimpse of life away from the everyday.
Some volunteers have had their participants riding roller coasters at theme parks and re-visiting their old childhood homes they hadn’t seen in years.
STRONGER TOGETHER: Celebrating our long serving employees
The benefits of visiting are endless, for both the visitor and the visited.
To further ensure our volunteers are also reaping the rewards of community and companionship, our ACVVS team hosts a catch-up each month.
This provides our valued visitors the opportunity to debrief and provide feedback, advice, words of encouragement and support for one another, as well as training opportunities for those who would like to use the tablets or VR headsets.
If you’re interested in participating, our ACVVS staff will be at the Seniors Expo this Tuesday, March 23, at the Bundaberg Multiplex Convention Centre from 9am to 1pm.
Alternatively, phone Heather Hinsbey on 0448 035 891 to discuss your volunteer options.
