Seniors make great contributions by volunteering

As part of International Volunteering Day (IVD) held on 5 December, National Seniors Australia (NSA) recognised seniors who give up their time and efforts to volunteer.
 
NSA chief executive, Michael O’Neill, said IVD was an important occasion to say “thank you” to the many thousands of selfless volunteers who willingly give unpaid help in the form of time, service or skills.
 
“In many communities around Australia, volunteers are the absolute lifeblood of these places,’’ Mr O’Neill said.
 
A 2009 NSA report revealed the cost to the economy of replacing older Australians who provide unpaid child care and unpaid help to people with a disability with paid workers would be $4.8 billion a year.

“The volunteer rate for older Australians has increased steadily over the past decade whether it be through volunteering with an organisation or group or as individuals who might be carers.
 
“In fact the Australian Bureau of Statistics ABS 2006 Volunteer Work Survey shows couples aged 55 years and older contribute the most voluntary hours per year (170.3 hours) of any age bracket surveyed,” he said.
 
The NSA Indigenous Skills Transfer and Exchange Partnership (INSTEP) program, which places seniors in Aboriginal communities, is a way for seniors to get into volunteering.
 
INSTEP volunteers go into communities and pass on a range of skills assisting with projects like schooling, trades such as market gardening, community governance, healthy eating and more.
 
“Our experience has been that our volunteers have gained great satisfaction from giving of themselves in this way to help communities. The improved understanding between Indigenous community members and our volunteers has been extraordinary,” Mr O’Neill said.
 
In the 2009-10 financial year, 26 seniors collectively volunteered more than 926 days in Indigenous communities. INSTEP volunteers contributed an estimated 4,961 voluntary hours in Indigenous communities.
 
INSTEP is looking for more ‘grey nomads’ to donate their time and expertise in regional communities and in some metropolitan locations around Australia.
 
To find out more about volunteering opportunities for INSTEP phone Karen Furnivall on 1300 76 50 50.