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Volunteering: Is it for you?
Volunteers are people who provide a service that benefits the community. They do this of their own free will, without financial payment.
Some volunteering is structured; that is, it's administered through an organisation or association. Volunteering also can be informal, such as driving a friend or neighbour to a doctor's appointment.
Who Volunteers?
Forget everything you have ever heard about the sorts of people who volunteer: it's for everyone! There are almost as many men working as volunteers as women. Men make up 48% of the volunteer work force. People of all ages volunteer, though the majority of volunteers are in the 30 to 44 age group. Over 60% of volunteers also work full time or part time.
Why do people Volunteer?
Most volunteers will tell you that they get as much out of volunteering as they give. Volunteers say they are motivated to do the work because they;
- Participate in the community
- Have fun
- Stay active
- Learn new skills
- Maintain existing skills
- Make new friends
- Build self confidence
- Pursue a hobby or special interest
- Gain practical work experience
- Support a cause they believe in
- Make a difference
- Show care for others
What do Volunteers do?
Volunteers share their skills, life experiences and expertise with the many different people in the local community.
The most popular areas of volunteer work are Sport, Education, Health and Welfare, Community Service, Recreation, Emergency Services, Arts and the Environment and Heritage organisations.
Here are some of the many different jobs that volunteers do:
- Tutor English
- Staff community radio stations
- Work as telephone counsellors
- Deliver books to the household
- Deliver Meals on Wheels
- Staff opportunity shops
- Walk dogs for animal shelters
- Assist with therapy programs
- Advocate for the rights of others
- Visit older people in their own homes
- Record books onto tape for vision impaired people
- Help with fundraising activities
- Leisure activities with adults/children
- Accompany kids on camps
- Administration and office work
- Provide information over the phone
- Tutor in adult literacy/numeracy programs
- Work with environmental groups
- Work on management committees
- Coach sporting activities
- Act as museum guides
- Participate in rallies
- Help with school holiday programs
- Work with community TV
- Work in emergency services
- Driving people to medical appointments
