Volunteers hit the phones to spread cheer and care to isolated Aussies at Christmas

For most of us Christmas is a time for connection with friends and family, but for many Aussies, like Irene Cooper, it can be lonely.

Originally from Malta, 84-year-old Cooper likes to keep busy, but Christmas can be particularly isolating.

"I do watch YouTube a lot, I read a lot, but it still doesn't make up for human contact," Cooper said.

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It's why she signed up to receive regular calls from the Red Cross Telecross service. 

With volunteers all over the country, it's a phone call a day to check she's okay. 

"Even though you don't see them, you can feel it in their voice that they care," Cooper said.

"And that, I think that is the main thing when you're getting old that someone does really care.

"They care enough to take their time to give you a call and say 'hi, how's your day today? Are you all right?'."  

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In operation for more than 50 years, last financial year Telecross volunteers made roughly half a million calls to vulnerable Aussies.

And during the holiday season, the call is crucial to those who are isolated. 

"Knowing that someone is still there to at least say 'hi, how are you?' ... to me means everything because that might be just the contact I have that day," Cooper said.

"Red Cross is my family and I know that I can go to sleep knowing that someone cares."

To become a TeleCross volunteer, register your interest on the Red Cross website.