genU initiative offers free mental health training

DISABILITY support provider genU is this month offering new volunteers who sign up to support Geelong’s ageing community the opportunity to gain free mental health training.

The offer, launched in recognition of National Mental Health Month this month, is open to every volunteer who is successfully inducted into the genU volunteer program and the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) before December 1.

An Australian government-funded initiative, the ACVVS is a free service that connects older people experiencing loneliness with compassionate volunteers for regular visits with the aim of fostering meaningful connections and alleviating feelings of isolation.

Volunteers and ACVVS participants are matched based on location and shared interests.

genU chief executive officer Clare Amies said the act of giving time selflessly to help older people lead richer lives and feel valued as community members was a worthy contribution.

“Volunteering is suitable for people [who are] working part-time, are retired or studying [and] wanting to make connections and give back to their community.

“The ACVVS is ideal for people who like to make connections with others and provide companionship, which can be done with a chat over a cuppa, taking part in an activity or just spending quality time with an older person in a safe and comfortable environment.

“From the feedback our ACVVS volunteers give us, they have gained more from the experience than they anticipated, formed friendships and look forward to their weekly visits.”

Ms Amies said offering free mental health training was one small way genU can give back to volunteers and help the ACVVS run successfully.

The training, which will give volunteers a micro-credential in understanding mental illness, will help build knowledge of mental health and mental illness using real life examples and case studies of people living with mental illness.

“Supporting our new volunteers with this micro-credential is a token of our gratitude for joining the scheme to help older people remain connected with their community,” Ms Amies said.

“We want to foster genuinely inclusive communities and the ACVVS is one way we can achieve this goal.”

For more information, or to find out how to apply, head to genu.org.au or phone 1300 558 368.