Sixty-four-year-old Sydney artist Wil has taken a young man under his wing through Catholic Healthcare's Community Visitors Scheme, giving 23-year-old Wei Zhao painting lessons once a fortnight.

But it might be surprising to learn that Wil isn't the volunteer in this relationship.

A client of Catholic Healthcare's Community Services, Wil was left with brain damage from a car accident many years ago, and later developed Early Onset Dementia. Through fortnightly visits to his Northern Suburbs home, Psychology student Wei has helped Wil regain an important part of his life: the role of mentor.

According to Catholic Healthcare's Community Services Volunteers and Corporate Partnerships Manager Kerry Lovell, the story of Wil and Wei embodies the spirit of what Catholic Healthcare calls 'Enabling Volunteering.'

"'Enabling' seeks to avoid the creation of client dependence on a care provider," Mrs Lovell explained. "Rather, it encourages clients to be more empowered, independent and active, while truly remaining connected within the community."

Catholic Healthcare's Community Services has implemented the 'Enabling' philosophy of care across its client base, which numbers in excess of 5,000 and includes the elderly, financially disadvantaged, people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness, people with a disability, people with a mental illness, carers and children and young people with special needs or who are at risk of harm.