Volunteering

Volunteering can be a very rewarding and satisfying activity in your senior or retirement years.

According to Volunteering SA, some of the main reasons that seniors volunteer are

• A satisfying activity to fill spare time
• A way to contribute to the quality of community life
• A way of expressing care and concern for others
• The opportunity to meet people and make friends
• The chance to positively contribute to individuals and community organisations
• To assist the development of new services
• To share your skills and life experience
• To maintain your skills and learn new ones
• To stay active and alert

Volunteering opportunities range over many skills and life experiences. As a volunteer you can offer skills and experience that have been accumulated throughout life from work, education, family life and other interests.

There are as many different types of volunteering jobs as there are paid jobs – something to suit everyone’s tastes. Things to ask yourself when looking for a volunteer role: 

• Why do you want to volunteer? See the list above
• What knowledge, skills and time do you have?
• What are you interested in - the arts, education, environment, health, sport, community services or emergency services?
• Where do you want to volunteer? Locally? On a bus route? Overseas? At a major event?

Volunteer organisations can help you identify volunteering opportunities that suit your needs and refer you to available volunteer positions.

Volunteering in South Australia

Adelaide Metropolitan

Volunteering SA

This is the ideal starting point for anyone considering volunteering or for those volunteers who seek training and/or advice.

The peak body for volunteering in South Australia, Volunteering SA promotes volunteering by providing a wide range of services.
Information sessions are conducted to introduce potential volunteers to the type of work that is available in a broad range of fields including the arts, education, environment, health, sport/recreation, welfare and emergency services.

Workshops are also available to support volunteers in the areas of communication, mentoring, customer service and leadership skills.

Volunteering SA offers a referral service for volunteers. 

Level 5, 182 Victoria Sq, Adelaide
Tel. 8221 7177
Email volsa@volunteeringsa.org.au

Southern Volunteering SA Inc.
Southern Youth X-Change building
13 McKinna Rd, Christie Downs
Tel. 8384 9202
E-mail svsa@internode.on.net

Northern Volunteering SA Inc.
39 John St, Salisbury
Tel. 8250 1582
E-mail nvsa@internode.on.net

Gawler Volunteer Resource Centre
Evanston Gardens Community Centre
65 Angle Vale rd, Evanston Gardens
Tel. 8522 9207

Regional South Australia

Limestone Coast Volunteer Resource Centre
80 Ormerod St Naracoorte
Tel. 8762 2388

Port Augusta and Region Volunteer Resource Centre
Social Vision Unit, Port Augusta City Council, 43 Flinders Tce Port Augusta
Tel. 8641 2315 

Lower North Volunteer Resource Centre
Town Hall Building 229 Main Rd Clare SA 5453
Tel. 8842 1055

Australia

Volunteering Australia 
The national body. 

GoVolunteer!
A national volunteer recruitment website.

Overseas

For information about volunteering positions with overseas aid agencies try these links.

Australian Business Volunteers
Tel: (02) 6285 1686
Fax: (02) 6285 1424 

AFS Intercultural Programs
Tel. 1300 131 736  

Australian Volunteers International
Tel. 1800 331 292 (Freecall) 

Friends of .........

Many organisations have a group of volunteers who have formed a “Friends of…” to support the work of the organisation. Members pay an annual fee and are usually involved in fund raising. While this is often a major activity, groups like those below and more offer activities and benefits for their volunteers.

• Libraries
• Museums
• Heritage sites
• Educational facilities
• Conservation groups
• Environmental groups