Volunteering can be a great way to connect with others and also give back to the community.  Have you thought about volunteering but not sure where to look?

Benefits of volunteering

Volunteering can have many benefits including:

Social connections: Volunteering provides opportunities to connect with others and overcome feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Improved physical and mental health: Studies have shown that volunteering can have positive effects on physical and mental health by reducing stress and increasing physical activity.

Skill development: Volunteering provide you with opportunity to keep your skills sharp and stay mentally active.

Sense of fulfillment: Volunteering can be a fulfilling experience for seniors, allowing them to make a positive impact on their community and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Increased sense of belonging: By volunteering, you can feel connected to your community and have a greater sense of belonging.

Overall, volunteering can be a great way for seniors to stay active and engaged in their community, while also providing a range of physical, mental, and social benefits.

Not sure where to look to find volunteering opportunities?

For volunteering opportunities across Queensland, you can utilise the Volunteering Queensland website. For volunteering opportunities on the Gold Coast, there is Volunteering Gold Coast.   Meals on Wheels Queensland provide meals to people across the state and are always in need of volunteers in the kitchen, to deliver meals or to assist with administration.

“As volunteers for Meals on Wheels MBR, we love going out to deliver meals to our aging community, sometimes we are the only people they see each day, spending a few minutes with them to check on them is the best satisfying feeling” – Meals on Wheels Moreton Bay Region

Local neighbourhood and community centres provide many supports to the community from food parcels to assistance to complete paperwork to learn new skills such computers or arts.  Neighbourhood centres provide a safe space to connect with others.  They often require administration support or for people to share their skills and knowledge by facilitating workshops.

For information about volunteering through UnitingCare, head to the UnitingCare website here.  Whether it’s visiting an older person for a cuppa, going on holiday with a person with disability, sorting books at the Lifeline Bookfest or serving in a Lifeline Shop, UnitingCare provides many opportunities.

When thinking about where you could volunteer, think about the skills you have and what you enjoy doing.  Do you only have capacity to help as a once off?  Or are you looking for an ongoing, regular commitment?  Do you like to drive?  You could help transfer people to their hospital appointments.  Do you like to talk?  You could help on a telephone social connection helpline.  Are you incredibly organised?  You could help behind the scenes.

“My volunteering activities enable me to pass on much of the expertise acquired during my former commercial career for further benefit to my community” – Volunteer with Volunteering Gold Coast