Care Army for organisations and local government

What is the Care Army?

The Care Army is a group of Queensland volunteers working with support service organisations to care for older and vulnerable people in the community. The Care Army initiative was born during the COVID-19 pandemic but continues supporting organisations that provide services to people in vulnerable conditions even after the most visible effects of the pandemic have subsided.

How my organisation can utilise Care Army volunteers?

Queensland’s community organisations are encouraged to think about how they could use volunteers to assist with meeting the needs of older and vulnerable people in their communities. This could be achieved through phone calls or video chats to check on the well-being of older and vulnerable Queenslanders and help reduce the impacts of social isolation. It could also involve the non-contact delivery of food, medication, and essential items, driving people to appointments, mowing lawns, or similar chores.

Care Army volunteers support volunteering involving organisations that deliver services to community members who amongst other things, need assistance with getting groceries and other essential supplies, attending medical appointments, using communication and entertainment technology, garden care, and having a friendly face to provide company and reassurance. In most cases, those receiving Care Army support do not have access to family, friends, or neighbours to help them.

Volunteering Queensland works with the Queensland Government to administer the Care Army program, facilitating the recruitment and placement of volunteers.

Does your organisation need volunteer support?

Is your organisation requiring volunteers to support delivering services to the vulnerable? Volunteering Queensland can help you access volunteer support through Queensland’s Government Care Army initiative.

Care Army volunteers can help in front-line service delivery roles where they support older and vulnerable people. Care Army volunteers can also assist the operations of your organisation.

The safety and health of Care Army volunteers and the safety, health and privacy of those they assist is of primary importance. Community organisations are asked to ensure all necessary screenings, briefings and PPE are in place.

There is no cost to access Care Army volunteers.

How Care Army assists community organisations

Queensland’s community organisations are eligible to engage Care Amy volunteers to deliver essential services to elderly and vulnerable people.

Kate Jones and Annastacia Palaszczuk at the launch of the “Care Army”. C/-Brisbane Times.

The process

• Made the request of Care Army Volunteers for your organisation.
• Your request will be processed if your organisation and the volunteer role are eligible to engage Care Amy volunteers. A member of our team will get in contact to inform you of the next steps in the process and ask for additional information if required.
• Registered Care Army volunteers will be invited via email to express their interest in your position.
• Once we have a group of volunteers willing to help your organisation, we will provide their details, so you can contact them and start the regular engagement process your organisation has in place.