Over the last 2 years I have been a part of the Elders Rights Australia ACVVS program, which has been a very rewarding experience. The program has taught me so much about myself and relating to others.
I started studies in aged care but was unable to complete it. Still wishing to work in aged care I started looking for other ways to participate in this field, which took me to volunteering as a way to fulfill this. Unsure of my abilities, I found information about ACVVS and it appealed to me.
It was a way of starting out with one-to-one contact with older people… which I did, starting visits with my first recipient, Bill.
My first visit, was in a way hard as we were both unsure of each other (Bill had been let down before with volunteers not returning) but with the support of my Program Officer Nalina I continued.
Over a period of about six weeks a bond between us started to develop. Bill was unable to remember my name due to his disabilities, but he always recognised me which meant a lot to me.
Soon he was calling me Kev (Not sure why, I must look like a Kev!!) and the staff at the facility know me as Kev too now! The connection between us grew stronger and it also helped me make a connection with the staff.
As time went on Bill’s health declined and he became confined to his bed. My visits became so important to me as I started to see the importance of standing by someone in their time of need.
Bill had taught me a lot in the 12 months that I visited him, he taught me that the simple things can make the biggest difference.
When he passed, I felt a sense of loss, he had become a true friend who after a slow start accepted me for who I was and trusted that I would show up. His acceptance of me and this positive experience encouraged me to expand my volunteering journey.
Fast forward 2 years and I now have many friends due to my regular ACVVS visits, some of my time with them has been short due to their health but each visit has been equally rewarding. Sharing a joke, having a chat, playing cards, simply spending time with everyone as taught me so much about myself, which has led me to expand my volunteering to other areas of aged care.
I feel that the last 2 years being a part of ERA, ACVVS and being welcomed by many aged care facilities and of course the recipients themselves, has been the most fulfilling and rewarding of my life.