Share the spirit of volunteering
From helping at hospitals to managing footy teams, older Australians are giving back in many ways.
In a world that often seems to revolve around paid work, it’s too easy to overlook the quiet power of volunteering.
Without volunteers, many essential services and community programs simply wouldn’t exist. From delivering meals to the vulnerable, visiting hospital patients, and coaching local sports teams to supporting others in times of disaster, volunteers fill the gaps that money alone can’t.
Volunteers offer time, compassion, and commitment – not for profit, but for people. Imagine a society without them: fewer support services, more isolation, and communities less connected.
Volunteers uplift the human spirit in many ways, reminding us that care, kindness, and community are just as important as commerce.
Over the next few weeks, there will be opportunities to recognise the work of volunteers and to become involved in volunteering programs ourselves.
The major event is National Volunteer Week (NVW), which will be held from 19-25 May.
It recognises the millions of volunteers who give their time, energy and heart to help others and strengthen our communities.
This year’s theme, “Connecting Communities”, builds on the message of last year’s “Something for Everyone”, and highlights the powerful role that volunteering plays in bringing people together
It’s a chance to reflect on the value of connection – between people, places, cultures, and generations – and to recognise how volunteers create bonds that make our communities more resilient, inclusive, and compassionate.
For older Australians, NVW is a timely reminder of both the value of your experience and the incredible opportunities available to contribute in meaningful ways.
Whether you’re recently retired, semi-retired, or simply looking for a way to stay active and engaged, volunteering is a wonderful way to give back while staying socially connected.
Volunteers are at the heart of so many vital services: supporting the elderly, mentoring young people, helping in hospitals, caring for animals, restoring local parks, and more.
Volunteering can also benefit you. It’s been shown to improve mental and physical wellbeing, reduce feelings of loneliness, and provide purpose and structure – something many people value in later life. And it’s flexible: whether you have a few hours a week or just now and then, there’s a role to suit your interests and lifestyle.
To find a volunteering opportunity near you, visit www.volunteeringaustralia.org.
Related reading: Aged care needs older volunteers
