Volunteer Visits with Pets: Bringing Joy to an Aged Care I ACVVS Hawthorn

**Can you make a difference with your furry friend? **

Brighten someone’s day and make a meaningful difference to their wellbeing through our Coffee & Chat Program. These friendly one-on-one visits help residents feel connected, valued and supported.

We’re looking for **warm, compassionate volunteers with small, friendly pets** to spend time with our wonderful residents. Many residents would greatly benefit from the emotional support and companionship that comes from interacting with both people and animals. Your visit could bring comfort, joy and a much-needed connection.

If you’re a **St Vincent’s kind of person** who cares deeply about others and has a little time to share, we’d love to hear from you. **Bring your pet along and help brighten someone’s week!**

**What You’ll Do:**

- Visit a resident one-on-one with your small-breed dog or cat
- Spend time together in the gardens
- Share stories and life experiences
- Enjoy gentle interaction between your pet and the resident
- Read, play cards or work on puzzles together
- **No experience needed—just a love of people and animals!**

**Why Volunteer?**

- Create meaningful moments for seniors
- Share the joy of your dog
- Flexible visits to suit your schedule

Many aged care residents experience loneliness and social isolation. **Over 40% of people in aged care don’t have regular visitors.** By volunteering just **one hour a fortnight**, you can make a real difference. You’ll be matched one-on-one with a resident who would value your friendship and companionship. **Your visit could brighten their day and help them feel more connected.**

**Program Details:**

- **Dedication:** Our special volunteers are people who would like to visit their new friend at least 20 times or more over a twelve-month period (about one visit every two to three weeks or more).
- **Requirements:** Must be over 18 years old, pass a NDIS check (provided and paid for by us) and ideally be available to visit consistently and ongoing.

**Ideal Volunteers:**

- Have a **friendly and well-behaved pet**
- Enjoy connecting with older people
- Are warm, caring and compassionate
- Are comfortable bringing their pet into an aged care environment
- Have good communication skills
- Are committed and reliable

**What You’ll Gain:**

- The chance to form long-lasting, meaningful friendships
- Be part of a friendly team with a strong community spirit
- Experience the joy of enriching the lives of others

**Ready to Make a Difference?**
If you’re looking for a role where you can truly connect with others and enrich your community, apply to join our Coffee & Chat Program today. Help us combat loneliness and bring a sense of belonging to those who need it most.

**Equal Opportunity**
At St Vincent’s we value inclusivity and diversity and acknowledge the importance of creating an environment that is welcoming, safe, fair and impartial and invite people from all backgrounds to join our caring family.

** Category **
Seniors & Aged Care

** Commitment **
Regular - more than 6 months

** Type Of Work **
Companionship & Social Support,Disability Support,Seniors & Aged Care,

** Time Required **
Volunteers must be able to commit to consistent visits on a fortnightly basis over a minimum of 12 months.

** Training **
Volunteer Training