So what is volunteering?
A volunteer is someone who serves in a community primarily because they choose to do so. Many serve through a non-profit organization...
Important Principles of Volunteering…
1. Volunteering benefits the community AND the volunteer
2. Volunteer work is unpaid
3. Volunteering is always a matter of choice
4. Volunteering is not compulsorily undertaken to receive pensions or government allowances
5. Volunteering is a legitimate way in which citizens can participate in the activities of their community
6. Volunteering is a vehicle for individuals or groups to address human, environmental and social needs
7. Volunteering is an activity performed in the not for profit sector only
8. Volunteering in not a substitute for paid work
9. Volunteers do not replace paid workers nor constitute a thread to the job security of paid workers
10. Volunteering respects the rights, dignity and cultures of others
11. Volunteering promotes human rights and equality!
I have had a look around and below is some information I found from the ABS Voluntary Work, Australia Survey (2006). These figures were released in July 2007.
So tell me, Who volunteers?
*34% of the adult population (5.4 million people), volunteer.
*Slightly more women (36%) than men (32%) volunteer.
*44% of those aged 35-44 yrs volunteer, the highest participation level of any age group.
And where do they live?
*Queensland and the ACT have the highest volunteer participation rate of 38%.
*Volunteering is more common amongst those living in parts of the state outside the capital city, with a 38% participation rate for outside the capital cities vs. 32% in the cities.
So you’re starting to get interested right, now you want to know what do volunteers do!?
The four most common types of organization for which people volunteered were:
1. Sport and physical recreation
2 Education and training
3.Community/welfare
4.Religious groups.
The four most common volunteering activities are:
1.Fundraising: 48%
2.Preparing and serving food: 31%
3.Teaching/providing information: 28% and
4.Administration: 26%
*Many volunteers are also involved in caring for others with special needs, beyond the level of care usually called on in family life.
*27% of volunteers were carers' compared with 17% of those who were not volunteers and
63% provided informal help to other people in the community (a relative in another household, friend, neighbor, work colleague or other person) compared with 42% of non volunteers.
And of course why do they do it?
*Almost two thirds of those who became involved in volunteering in the last 10yrs were asked by someone (35%) or did so because they knew someone involved (29%).
*They were rarely recruited by the media with only 5% doing so as a response to a media report of an advertisement.
*Over half of volunteers (52%) reported that at least one of their parents had done voluntary work compared to 23% for those whose parents had not volunteered.
*The top reason for volunteering was 'Helping others or the community' 57%, followed by 'personal satisfaction' at 44%, and 'to do something worthwhile' at 36%.
Want to know some other interesting stats?
1. The total annual hours volunteered was 713 million.
2. The median weekly number of hours volunteered was 1.1hrs.
3. The median annual number of hours volunteered was 56hrs.
4. People who volunteer are more likely to have made a donation than those who are not volunteers (85% compared to 72%).
Still needing some inspiration to get started??!
Nearly everyone knows someone who is a volunteer and we're often inspired by the great work of volunteer-involving projects and organizations. It’s each of our duties to encourage others to get involved, the amount of young people volunteering their time is great but it would be even better if more were involved, you can NEVER have too many volunteers!! There is always somebody out there who would like a hand with something and by simply giving it a go and helping other people you are doing a great service not only to the community but also to yourself! The feeling that you get through putting selfishness aside and helping is great, warm fuzzies all-round!
Would you like some more information about volunteering?
http://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/html/s01_home/home.asp
http://www.australianvolunteers.com/
http://www.govolunteer.com.au/
http://www.volunteeringwa.org.au/
Or your local Volunteer Resource Centre’s or council could have more information on volunteering in your area!
