Life Begins At.....
Issue link: http://ebook.aprs.com.au/i/32324
BANNER BANNER VOLUNTEERING Getting involved with your community Feel like doing something different? Why not consider becoming a volunteer. With over 5.4 million adult Australians volunteering, and a variety of volunteer roles on offer, it’s a great time to consider becoming involved. Amanda Everton reports. In Australia, volunteers work in all spheres of community and across many sectors including health, community services, emergency services, arts, culture and heritage, the environment, sport and recreation, education and youth development, overseas aid, animal welfare, human rights and in religious organisations. The latest data available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics1 shows that volunteers represent approximately 34% of the adult population and between them provide approximately 713 million volunteer hours per annum. Other interesting statistics include: • Slightly more women (36%) than men (32%) volunteer. • 44% of volunteers are aged 35-44 yrs volunteer, the highest participation level of any age group. • 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 compared with 32% in the cities. There are a number of emerging trends in volunteering impacting the sector. THE RETIREE WINTER 171 >