Out and About
Connecting older LGBTI+ people with community
Out and About is a free service by Switchboard Victoria that fosters meaningful, mutual connections between older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI+) people and peer volunteer visitors. The program reduces social isolation while building friendship, solidarity and joy across generations and lived experiences.
An intergenerational LGBTI+ home visiting service
Our experienced staff match participants with volunteers from LGBTIQA+ communities based on shared interests and location. Each connection is unique and shaped by those involved. Whether it’s chatting over the phone, meeting for a coffee, or attending an event together, the relationships often grow into something meaningful for both people.
Catch-ups might include:
Chats over the phone
Tea or coffee at home or in a café
Walks, films, games or shared hobbies
Attending community events
Visits typically happen every fortnight, and each connection is unique and shaped by the people involved.
Why is there a need for a LGBTI+ specific Community Visitor Scheme?
Many older LGBTI+ people have faced exclusion or discrimination and may find it hard to stay connected. At the same time, many in our community want to build intergenerational friendships, share stories and connect.
Older LGBTI+ individuals may have limited supportive family networks, significant fear of discrimination while accessing aged care and may not be able to access their community. Our volunteers can help to make older LGBTI+ people feel accepted, less isolated and safe in their environment.
Accessing the Out and About service
Who can access the service?
Older LGBTI+ people across Victoria are welcome to access the program. We accept new referrals from anywhere in the state.
You are welcome to access our service if you are:
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual or questioning, AND
live anywhere in Victoria, AND
approved for or receiving a Home Care Package at home, OR
any age living in residential aged care, OR
aged 60+ and experiencing social isolation (or 50+ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living with HIV).
Out and About is a specialist LGBTI+ service of the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) and is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Contact us:
Phone: 1800 729 367 (**check phone number)
Email: outandabout@switchboard.org.au
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To be eligible to receive an Out and About volunteer visitor, a person must identify as LGBTI+ and be receiving a Home Care Package or be living in government funded residential aged care.
Eligibility for Home Care Packages and residential care is organised by the Aged Care Assessment Service. This can be arranged by calling My Aged Care 1800 200 422.
If you are unsure whether you’re eligible for a volunteer visitor, please call our Out and About Coordinator on 1800 729 367 or email outandabout@switchboard.org.au.
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Please contact our Out and About Coordinator to discuss your privacy concerns. In many cases you may still be able to receive a visitor. For more info, call 1800 729 367 or email outandabout@switchboard.org.au
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Yes! Although the program is aimed at older LGBTI+ people, our volunteers are happy to visit younger people who meet our eligibility criteria.
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Our Out and About coordinator will contact the referring party as well as the aged care provider for further information. Next, the Coordinator will organise a time to meet the older person and discuss the program and their needs. A suitable volunteer will be selected from our volunteer pool based on location, any preferences expressed by the person, and common interests. The Out and About coordinator will arrange and attend the first meeting. If all parties are happy with the match visits will continue on a regular basis.
For more info, call 1800 729 367 or email outandabout@switchboard.org.au
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Our Out and About volunteers usually visit weekly for an hour, or fortnightly for two hours. Volunteers are asked to commit for a period of at least one year.
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No. Our volunteers are there for social activities and friendship only. If you need additional help at home, please contact your aged care provider.
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Our volunteer visitors must respect the rights of the person they visit including privacy, confidentiality and dignity. As well, those receiving visits will also be required to respect the rights of the volunteer visitors. Contact the Coordinator if you wish to discuss further or for a copy of Switchboard’s Privacy Policy.
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Yes! There are no fees for this service and all of our Out and About community visitors are volunteers. However, if the visit includes a movie or lunch at a cafe, both parties will need to pay their own costs.
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Yes! We’re funded to provide volunteers Victoria wide. For more info, call 1800 729 367 or email outandabout@switchboard.org.au
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We have a dedicated group of volunteers who are 18 to 80 years old and have a variety of backgrounds and interests. They receive training on their role, responsibilities and issues that may affect older people. We’re a peer-based service, so most of our volunteers identify as LGBTI+. If no appropriate LGBTI+ volunteer can be found, we may occasionally accept volunteers who do not identify as LGBTI+ but have a good knowledge and understanding of LGBTI+ people.
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Your visits are what you make them. The primary aim is to build community connections and reduce isolation through social activities that are mutually enjoyable. You might like to sit and chat about current affairs, walk to the local café, watch a movie together, tell each other stories from your life, or participate in a hobby, game or other activity.
Volunteer visitors are there for social activities only and should not engage in any other care activities such as shopping, cleaning or personal care. If the participant needs additional assistance, they should speak to their aged care provider.
How to make a referral?
You can refer yourself, or someone else (e.g. a resident, client, friend or family member).
Referrals can be made confidentially in the following ways:
Phone: Call 1800 729 367
Online: Use our online referral form [insert link]
Email: Send an email to outandabout@switchboard.org.au
Mail request: Contact us to request a referral form to be mailed to you — we include a stamped return envelope
“I feel alive again.”
— Clinton, ABC life video.
(Older LGBTI+ Out and About Participant)
Volunteering with Out and About
Become a volunteer
We provide full training and ongoing support. Our volunteers are aged 18 to 88 and come from all walks of life. Most identify as LGBTI+.
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Build lasting friendships
Give back to the LGBTI+ community
Learn about ageing, inclusion and community support
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Volunteers commit to weekly fortnightly visits
A minimum 12-month commitment is expected
Volunteers must respect the privacy and dignity of the people they visit
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As you will be working with vulnerable people, volunteers are expected to demonstrate the highest level of ethical conduct. Some of the skills required in this position are: a commitment to building and sustaining a friendship with an elder LGBTI+ person over an extended period of time; strong communication skills, including listening skills; empathy; respect for the person’s beliefs, background and culture; willing to seek advice, as appropriate.
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Some of the benefits of volunteering are: developing friendships with older people; giving back to and supporting LGBTI+ community; enhancing a person’s quality of life; gaining experience working with older people & aged care services; building connections with other volunteers; learning about LGBTI+ ageing through professional development & support sessions.
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Item descriptiSome of the challenges of volunteering are: learning to communicate with someone who may have a different communication style; finding activities that are enjoyable for you both; managing boundaries – being able to say no when the visit recipient asks you to undertake activities that are outside your role; making time for regular visits.
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Out and About Volunteers receive training in LGBTI+ ageing issues, their role and responsibilities as a visitor, the rights of visitors and care recipients, loss and grief, managing boundaries, administration requirements, code of conduct and occupational health and safety issues. We also run regular professional development sessions on topics relevant to LGBTI+ ageing.
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Volunteers are expected to visit weekly for 1 hour or fortnightly for 2 hours, with a minimum of 20 visits in a year. Volunteers are expected to commit for 12 months.
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Never! We’re very happy to take older volunteers.
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Yes! We’re always happy to hear from people in rural or regional Victoria who would like to volunteer. You will be matched up with someone in your area, so you don’t need to worry about travelling too far.
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Item descriptionVolunteers are matched based on location, common interests and any preferences expressed during the visit request process.
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Item descriptionIf you would like to volunteer with us, please register your interest here.
"When I was looking to do a volunteer program, I was definitely looking for some sort of fulfilling connection with somebody who was older and part of the queer community."
— Haydn, ABC Life Video (Out and About volunteer)
ABC's Ageless Friendships:
Series 1 Episode 2 | Out and About
Clynton and Haydn develop a wonderful friendship through a unique volunteer program.
This story was made possible by ABC News
LGBTI+ CVS Interview with Dr Jennifer Glenister.
Switchboard Victoria interviews Dr Jennifer Glenister, ScD, regarding her experience of the Out and About LGBTI+ Community Visitors Program
A podcast featuring interviews with Out and About participants, created in collaboration with Lesbians Inc and Queering the Air.
Produced by Meredith Butler and Thanh Hằng Phạm, with music by Mx Munro.
Similar Services
These organisations provide services like Out and About:
Rainbow Connections – Thorne Harbour Health (Melbourne, VIC)
ACON – Community Visitors Scheme (NSW)
QC – LGBTI+ aged care and support services (QLD)
Umbrella – LGBTI+ supports for older people (WA)
GRAI – LGBTI+ supports for older people (WA)