Volunteering changes lives and fills community gaps across the country
From planting trees to dementia choirs and early morning cafes for the homeless, volunteering is turning lives around, offering opportunities and filling gaps in community services across Australia.
Volunteering has a profound impact on individuals and communities across Australia, filling gaps and making a difference in various areas. As 24-year-old Ms Stevens recounts, her volunteering experiences have been life-changing, taking her from Zimbabwe and South Africa as a high school student to winning the Young Volunteer Award in South Australia.
Ms Stevens, who previously managed a team of 40 volunteers at The Smith Family, emphasizes that volunteering offers a great way to connect with a cause and can even boost employability. In communities across the country, volunteers are stepping in to address a range of issues, from neighborhood support and social inclusion to wildlife care and emergency responses.
The ABS General Social Survey reveals that 16.4% of young people aged 15-24 volunteered formally, while 22.9% were engaged in informal volunteering. Carol Lewis, an executive search consultant, volunteers at the Early Bird Cafe in Sydney, where the cafe serves 63,000 meals to the needy and homeless each year. Similarly, the Sing Out Choir in Dubbo, led by Anne Gemmell, provides a therapeutic outlet for people with dementia and their carers.
Despite challenges such as increased fuel costs due to the Middle East conflict, the importance of volunteering remains evident, with studies showing that for every dollar invested in volunteering, five dollars are returned to the community.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
