National Volunteering Week: aged care volunteers give residents new life

Uniting Crookwell volunteers Peter and Sylvia Cullen, Annette Cummins, Cate and Graham Stanton, Therese Harris, and Noel Bridge

Volunteering is experiencing a resurgence after experiencing a significant drop due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the volunteer numbers have begun to rise again, there are still many more aged care volunteers needed.

Uniting NSW.ACT has seen an extra 500 volunteers sign up to help across its network of 75 aged care homes last year. Uniting is a truly blended workforce with more than 10,000 employees and more than 1,400 volunteers working alongside 120 teams.

“This National Volunteers Week we really want to acknowledge the vital contribution our volunteers make to not just our aged care residents, but also in helping our staff,” said Gail Yap, Uniting Volunteering Lead.

“The theme this year is ‘something for everyone’ - and we at Uniting certainly want to highlight and celebrate the diverse passions and talents everyone brings to the act of volunteering.

“Volunteering is so important to our communities. Volunteers help to bridge generations and cultures, and in many ways complement and extend formal services provided by organisations such as Uniting." 

“Despite the encouraging increase in volunteers now working with Uniting, it’s no secret across the board Australia has been experiencing a decline in volunteering over the last decade and working with young people is just one of the ways we can invest in the next generation of volunteers,” said Gail.

“In aged care, volunteers play a critical role in helping residents continue to live their chosen lives, by facilitating their favourite activities and providing often much needed companionship. When it becomes harder to visit the community, volunteers bring the community to them.”

Why aged care volunteers are important

Traditionally, volunteers have been an essential part of the aged care system. Today, they can help older people from diverse backgrounds, life experiences and cultures to:

• live meaningful lives;
• have a sense of belonging and purpose;
• build social connections;
• remain living at home;
• reduce social isolation and loneliness;
• connect with community;
• feel accepted and safe in their environment; and
• improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

A volunteer will be highly valued by older people to provide connection, conversation, listening and help to improve their quality of life. You will also benefit by:

• meeting new people;
• having a sense of purpose;
• improved self-esteem and confidence;
• learning new skills and gaining training;
• keeping active mentally and physically;
• having a positive impact on others; and
• feeling part of a community.

“We need volunteers now more than ever,” said Gail. "So, we encourage anyone who would enjoy building meaningful connections, has a few spare hours each week and would like to help the vulnerable members of the community, to get in touch with us.” 

Anyone interested in volunteering at Uniting NSW.ACT should contact the team at [email protected] or visit https://www.uniting.org/get-involved/volunteer

Eligibility and requirements

Aged care providers have specific requirements for aged care volunteers. If interested, check these requirements with the individual provider.

Typically, volunteers need to:

• receive a National Police Check or National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening Check. The NDIS Worker Screening Check will only be required if a volunteer is in a risk assessed role where the provider is a registered NDIS provider. The NDIS Commission provides more information on the requirements of the NDIS check.

If interested and already holding a valid NDIS Worker Screening clearance, you will not need an extra police check completed before volunteering in an aged care setting.

The Department has issued Worker Screening Guidelines, which provide more detailed information and includes volunteers.

• provide evidence of their recent flu and/or COVID-19 vaccination history.

Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory require volunteers to also have a Working with Vulnerable People Check. Some jurisdictions may request a Working with Children Check.

Contact the Department of Health and Aged Care if you have any questions or feedback about volunteering in aged care: [email protected]