About CVS

The South Australian Community Visitor Scheme (CVS) plays an essential role in promoting the wellbeing, dignity, safety and rights of people who are:

• living with a mental health condition and receiving care from a mental health service
• under the guardianship of the Public Advocate and participants in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
• living with disability in a state-run disability service
• living with disability in South Australia and have 'opted-in' for visits.

From 1 July 2026, the scope of the Community Visitor Scheme expanded to become available to any person aged 18 or over in South Australia who receives disability-related support, services or treatment and chooses to be part of the CVS.

Read further information about how to opt-in for a visit.

The Community Visitor Scheme is a volunteer-led program. Experienced, skilled, and independent Community Visitors conduct visits and inspections of accommodation. Community Visitors engage with residents and their families to make sure they have adequate information regarding their treatment, care, and rights and are supported to achieve better outcomes.

The Principal Community Visitor and Community Visitors are independent statutory appointments established under the Mental Health Act 2009. Their independence is vital to the Scheme. The Principal Community Visitor provides advice to two Ministers:

• Minister for Health and Wellbeing for issues arising in mental health services
• Minister for Human Services on issues arising from disability services.

State Ministers responsible for mental health and disability

• Minister for Health and Wellbeing, the Hon Blair Boyer MP
• Minister for Human Services, the Hon Katrine Hildyard MP

Other safeguarding bodies

For additional information, support or advocacy, or to make a complaint about disability, mental health, aged care or community services, you can contact other safeguarding bodies.

Related information

• Disability Inclusion Act 2018
• Disability Services (Community Visitor Scheme) Amendment Regulations 2013
• SA Mental Health Act 2009
• Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, Volume 11 (Chapter 4 covers the function and value of Community Visitor Schemes)
• NDIS Review – The Final Report (Starting at page 200, the Independent Review Panel discusses the value of Community Visitor Schemes as part of a safeguarding framework for NDIS participants. Recommendation 16.4 calls for high quality, nationally consistent Schemes across Australia).