A generous man will prosper;
He who refreshes others
will Himself be refreshed.
- The Bible
Project of the Month
Each month The Cheerful Giver will also feature a special Project of the Month. This will be a project of our choice, and one we’ll give special attention to throughout that month.
Keep an eye out for these each month to discover more about the great work people and organisations are doing throughout the world.
July 2025
Become an ACVVS Volunteer!
If you’ve ever taken notice of the way that many old folks, particularly single old folks, spend their time, you’ll be very interested to hear about our first Cheerful Giver Project of the Month. To get us started we’re focussing on The Federal Government’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme. More about that shortly.
Many single older people, who live in their own home alone, or in an aged care facility are often restricted in what they can do. Age, mobility, health and other issues control what they can and can’t do. Many in these circumstances must contend with extended times of isolation, boredom and loneliness on a daily basis.
Government services and staff in facilities offer some help and provide occasional people contact, but for many the days alone are long and many and activities like watching a screen, reading, doing puzzles, gazing out a window and negotiating a necessary daily routine become normal life for many old people. For those of us who aren’t there yet, it’s hard to fully appreciate what it’s really like at this stage of life.
If you would like to make a difference in this space, and can spare roughly an hour a month, becoming a volunteer in the Federal Government Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme is worth considering.
The scheme (ACVVS) operates in many locations right across Australia and is operated by a variety of different organisations such as Councils, Churches, Community Groups and more. The Government funds these groups to set up and operate the scheme.
Volunteers are given some basic training and then allocated an eligible and willing older person who they are to visit regularly. Volunteers are expected to visit this person and spend time with them once a month for about an hour.
Operators of the scheme also hold social gatherings for their volunteers or undertake other initiatives to add to the overall enjoyment of serving in this way.
In our view, the ACVVS is a truly wonderful initiative and one that we believe many more people would “cheerfully” participate in if they hear about it. Maybe you’ll be the next person to volunteer and bring some extra joy and companionship to a person suffering from loneliness, isolation and boredom. Please think about it.
To find out more about the ACVVS and where it currently operates, go to:
https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/aged-care-volunteer-visitors-scheme-acvvs