Community Visitors are trained volunteers. They visit people living under government mental health and disability care to monitor their rights and wellbeing.
The Community Visitor Scheme aims to protect the rights of people living with disability or mental illness who are:
- receiving care in a mental health treatment centre
- attending a community mental health facility
- living in state-run disability accommodation
Community Visitors work in pairs and engage with as many residents as possible to hear about their experiences. They inspect the facilities and make inquiries into residents' care and treatment.
The Principal Community Visitor and Community Visitors are independent statutory appointments and their independence is vital to the Scheme. Residents, carers and family members can speak freely to Community Visitors, knowing they are not attached to service providers.
Community Visitors communicate any issues to staff at the facility and provide the Principal Community Visitor with a written report on their visit.
The legislative framework for the Community Visitor Scheme is informed by the South Australian Mental Health Act 2009 and the Disability Services (Community Visitor Scheme) Regulations 2013.
If you use non-government services
In 2026, the scope of the Community Visitor Scheme will expand. It will be available to any person in South Australia who receives disability-related support, services or treatment and chooses to be part of the CVS.
At present, disability clients and their families who are receiving services through non-government organisations are subject to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, who have a range of quality checks such as audits, registration and complaints handling, and will visit clients if concerns are raised through a combination of these checks.
If you use government services
The Community Visitor Scheme continues to visit state-government-funded accommodation sites.
The CVS will continue to build upon its successful foundations and safeguarding role into the future and is working with the Office of the Public Advocate to extend CVS visits to people with disability who are under the Guardianship of the Public Advocate.
Community Visitor Scheme
Visit the website for more information, volunteer or make contact.
Visit Community Visitor Scheme