When a simple Facebook post kept appearing on Lisa’s screen, she felt as if someone, somewhere, was tapping her on the shoulder. The ad was for volunteer visitors with Elder Rights Australia. “It was calling to me,” she says with a laugh. After a difficult period in her own life and a recent move closer into the country town, she finally clicked the link. What followed has become one of the more meaningful connections she has ever made.

Lisa, self-employed and living in north-east Victoria, already volunteered as treasurer for a local community magazine. She lived a full life, but something about this program felt different.

She was matched with an elderly lady she affectionately calls Mrs B. From the outset, it was clear that Mrs B had endured more than many people face in a lifetime. She raised five children but had lived a hard life. In later years, Mrs B’s world became very small. She did not see many visitors and receives home help with cleaning, gardening and shopping. Her limited mobility meant she often went days without meaningful conversation. The grief and isolation weighed heavily on her.

“When I first met her, she was extremely sad,” Lisa says. “She would often cry for long periods. I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with that.” With support from Elder Rights Australia case manager Jane, Lisa learned to navigate those moments, gently helping Mrs B shift toward memories that brought comfort rather than pain.

Now their time together is warm and familiar. They talk for hours over tea and cake. They venture out for lunch every couple of weeks. They laugh. They revisit stories of dancing, holidays and the music Mrs B once loved. “Her face lights up,” Lisa says. “She has a beautiful smile. I love seeing her happy.”

The experience has also given Lisa something unexpected. “She’s shown me strength and courage. In a time when I felt low, she taught me a lot about resilience.” One of their favourite shared projects was creating tiny teacup gardens, which still sit proudly on Mrs B’s patio. “She keeps watering them. They’re growing,” Lisa says.

For anyone considering volunteering, her message is simple. “Give it a go. You don’t have to do a lot to make someone happy. Sometimes you just need to be there, be kind and make time.”