Many older Australians experience loneliness and social isolation, particularly when they do not receive regular visitors.

St Vincent's Australia is working to help break this cycle of loneliness and social isolation. We are seeking expressions of interest from compassionate volunteers who can share their time to build connection and companionship with residents living in aged care.

What's Involved? Your visits can be relaxed and shaped around the interests of you and your matched resident. Activities might include:

• Enjoying a chat over a cup of coffee or tea
• Listening to and sharing life stories
• Reading books, playing cards, or working on puzzles
• Listening to favourite music
• Watching a favourite television show together

You do not need to plan elaborate activities. Often, simply showing up, listening, and being present is what matters most.

More About the Program: With the aim of reducing loneliness and improving quality of life for people living in aged care, we are seeking volunteers who can visit someone in their local community on a regular basis and develop a genuine friendship. We hope volunteers will build a meaningful connection with their matched resident through approximately 20 visits over a 12-month period, typically visiting weekly or fortnightly.

Volunteers Must

• Be aged 18 years or over
• Complete a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (paid for by St Vincent's)
• Be available to visit consistently and on an ongoing basis
• Be punctual, dependable, and respectful

This role may suit you if you:

• Show care and compassion for older people
• Enjoy meeting and learning about others
• Have strong listening and communication skills
• Can commit to regular visits
• Value kindness, patience, and reliability

What You'll Gain

• The opportunity to form a meaningful, long-lasting friendship
• The joy of helping someone feel valued and connected
• Support from a friendly volunteer team
• A stronger connection to your local community
• The satisfaction of helping reduce loneliness

Ready to Turn an Hour into Meaningful Connection? We'd love to hear from you! Your time may feel small to you, but to someone waiting for company, it could become their favourite part of the week.

Equal Opportunity At St Vincent's, we value inclusion and diversity. We are committed to creating an environment that is welcoming, safe, fair, and inclusive, and we invite people from all backgrounds to join our caring community.