The Federal Government has launched a new program designed to boost volunteers in residential aged care.
The re-engaging volunteers into residential aged care facilities program allows RAC facilities to nominate themselves as needing non-clinical support staff, who can alleviate the burden on workers by performing activities such as leisure, exercise, companionship, outdoor and community supervision, and administrative tasks.
A Department of Health spokesperson told The Weekly SOURCE that volunteers will not be replacing or replicating the paid workforce, and that they have long been an important part of the aged care system.
“The Department of Health is working with the aged care sector to develop opportunities to support the re-engagement of volunteers and to encourage new volunteers to provide companionship and support to senior Australians.
“The role of volunteers in supporting older people to live a meaningful and dignified life and to supplement the support and care provided to them through the aged care system was recognised in recommendation 44 of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety,” the spokesperson said.
The program accompanies a recent $34.4 million injection over four years to support the Community Visitor Scheme (CVS), expanding the number of CVS volunteers to over 17,800 places.
