About Us

Mackay Community Visitors Association was formed in 1990 by a man whose mother felt isolated and lonely living in an aged care facility. The Queensland Government established a pilot program for aged care visits and we’re one of the first organisations in Australia to implement the program. Following increased Government support, we’ve now grown into the formalised and professional support service you see today.

Starting out with just volunteers, vital Government funding allowed us to begin home visits in 1999. Since then, we’ve expanded significantly and hired staff as well as developing the transport and NDIS side of our operation.

The federally funded ACVVS funds organisations to recruit, train and support volunteers to provide friendship and companionship to elderly people residing in aged care facilities.

The objective of the scheme is to promote friendship and connectivity for the residents and a sense of achievement for the volunteers. The scheme focuses on combating social isolation. Isolation can have a massive impact on both physical and psychological well-being.

The aim is to focus on aged care residents who are isolated due to:

• Health, disability or cultural beliefs
• Do not have regular and frequent positive engagement with family or friends
• Who feel lonely and alone and benefit from one-on-one interaction
• Have communication impairments that prevent them from participating in social or leisure opportunities
  
  

Volunteers:

Are matched with a suitable resident and then after the initial visit are able to visit with them on a weekly basis. Children are always welcomed by the aged care facilities to visit also.

All volunteers are reference and police checked prior to the commencement of visiting.

Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.