Our Volunteer Service

The BCA Volunteer Service provides an opportunity to become active within the community, while helping others and yourself. It ensures that the interests of the volunteers are met and that of the organisation and community. The Volunteer Service actively recruits and fills the unmet needs of the community in many different areas, services, groups and events

Volunteer Support

Through the BCA there are a number of volunteering opportunities from being members of the management committee, assistance in delivering services. Assistance in delivering services could be as simple as helping with grocery shopping for our Emergency Food Relief program or teaching individuals how to use a computer, telephone social support, community visitors, reception assistance, carers for doctors visits or health and fitness programs.

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is funded by the Australian Government.

For Residential Care, One on One Visits or Group Visits:

The ACVVS supports community-based organisations (known as auspices) to recruit and match volunteers to provide friendship and companionship through volunteer visits to care recipients of Australian Government funded residential aged care and home care packages who are isolated.

ACVVS volunteers are considered by aged care service providers to be a relationship of choice, in a similar manner to a friend or family member visiting to provide companionship to the care recipient on a casual basis.

The ACVVS aims to improve quality of life for the aged care residential or home care recipients participating in the scheme, shown by:

  • general feeling of wellbeing with maintained or increased independence
  • increased self-esteem and sense of purpose
  • a sense of connectedness to the care recipient’s individual community, culture and identity
  • a sense of connectedness to other Commonwealth subsidised aged care recipients in the residential aged care home, and increased interactions between the group of residents visited
  • reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation; and
  • reduced feelings of depression and anxiety.

Many residences of aged care facilities do not have the local support of family as most children and grandchildren move away from home for a number of reasons. 
The service aims to enrich the quality of life of residents who would feel socially isolated or lonely due to their change in living arrangements, cultural reasons or due to disability.

The ACVVS arranges volunteers to visit selected residents on a regular, one-to-one basis. To do this the volunteer visitors are matched to selected residents. As a ACVVS visitor you will be required to visit your resident friend on a regular basis (at least once a fortnight).
This establishes a link between the residents of aged care homes and their local community.

As a ACVVS visitor, time is spent doing things you both enjoy:- such as reading, listening to music, chatting and reminiscing, playing card games, bingo or hoy etc.  Activities that you both undertake will depend on both fitness and ability and could even include walks around the grounds of the home or to the corner store.

The rewards are many, sharing your interests and time with your resident friend will help both you and them feel better about themselves and enjoying life more fully. It gives the resident added quality of life by being a companion, confidante, and friend. It is also hoped that your visits will increase the self-esteem and well-being of the resident, diminished feelings of anxiety, isolation and loneliness, a sense of connection to the community and an increase in feelings of independence.

Aged care residents come from a variety of different social and cultural backgrounds therefore ACVVS visitors from all backgrounds are welcome. 
Aged care homes identify residents who would be suitable for the Scheme. Family members or others may also approach the home if they know of a resident they think would benefit from companionship. We then match the resident with a suitable visitor, taking into account such things as shared interests, hobbies, and similarity of background, or a shared language.

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) 

Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is funded by the Australian Government.

IN HOME CARE Recipients

The ACVVS supports community-based organisations (known as auspices) to recruit and match volunteers to provide friendship and companionship through volunteer visits to care recipients of Australian Government funded residential aged care and home care packages who are isolated.

The ACVVS aims to improve quality of life for the aged care residential or home care recipients participating in the scheme, shown by:

  • general feeling of wellbeing with maintained or increased independence
  • increased self-esteem and sense of purpose
  • a sense of connectedness to the care recipient’s individual community, culture and identity
  • a sense of connectedness to other Commonwealth subsidised aged care recipients in the residential aged care home, and increased interactions between the group of residents visited
  • reduced feelings of loneliness and isolation; and
  • reduced feelings of depression and anxiety.

This is a free service for elderly people who are housebound and socially isolated. Recipients are over 65 years of age receiving Home Care Packages (HCP).

Many recipients in our community do not have the local support of family as most children and grandchildren move away from home for a number of reasons.

The service aims to enrich the quality of life of recipients in our community, who would feel socially isolated or lonely due to their change in living arrangements, cultural reasons or due to disability.

The ACVVS Visitors can help make a positive difference in their life and can also help make them aware of events and activities that they can become involved and participate in.

ACVVS coordinates volunteers to visit selected recipients on a regular, one-to-one basis. Each match considers such things as shared interests, hobbies and similarity of background or a shared language.

Telephone Support

This service is provided by a dedicated group of volunteers to assist recipients in the home environment or as a resident of a Residential Care Facility. The aim is to reduce social isolation and loneliness to improve wellbeing.

Skills of a Volunteer Visitor

Any person over the age of 18 years who is willing to volunteer their time to provide friendship or companionship can be a ACVVS volunteer visitor. Volunteers from a variety of backgrounds are suitable to assist in providing companionship to older people who would benefit from re-connecting with their culture or background, or becoming more involved in the community. The following skills are highly desirable in a volunteer visitor:

  • genuine empathy and understanding of older people
  • good communication and listening skills
  • bilingual language skills (not essential)
  • the ability to work independently
  • a commitment to developing a strong and ongoing relationship with an older person and to the ACVVS program
  • willingness to act with integrity, respect, confidentiality, and dignity; and
  • the ability to be flexible.
  • Persons from a diverse, complex vulnerability or cultural background are strongly encouraged to volunteer.[/read_more]

BCA Computer Kiosk for 50s Plus

Enables Burdekin Community members who are over 50, to learn how to use technology. One on One lessons are conducted on a day that suits the participant.
Experience stress-free, effective lessons, that are provided by specialised volunteer tutors who focus on your individual needs and learning styles.

Enjoy a safe and comfortable learning environment while benefiting from the latest technology and software. You can also effectively use and learn programs and software on your device.

Enjoy a wide range of sessions from beginning basics; such as intro to Computers, Internet and E-mail; to our more advanced sessions eg. Cybersecurity, Digital Imaging etc.

Learn how to Video Call family, research your Family History, Surf the Internet, access My Gov, book Online Medical Appointments, order your groceries using Online Shopping, send and receive Emails, connect on Facebook, pay bills via BPay and so much more that you can do online.

Read More

To book a lesson or enquire P: 47833744, E: bca@bcaburdekin.org.au or visit Support Centre, 130 Queen St, Ayr

Community Information Centre

The Community Information Centre is located in the main street and provides local and regional information.  The Centre also provides community and service information to local people and visitors to the community.

Fundraising

Face to Face Fundraising or Online Fundraising to help us to raise funds and receive donations to provide much needed community services, reward volunteers and help towards organisational events and activities

Unemployed Jobseekers

The Volunteer Service recruits Work for the Dole and Newstart Jobseekers to enable them to satisfy their mutual obligation requirements and develop new skills.
Through their placement jobseekers will find a sense of purpose as their assistance benefits many people within their local Community.

 

Rita Quagliata

Service Manager, Volunteer Service