Baby boomers look set to boost the ranks of Australia’s army of active volunteers over the next few years, with new research revealing four in every five Australians (82%) aged 50-64 plan to spend time volunteering when they retire.
The research results also show that volunteerism is not just limited to the baby boomers and extends to older Australians in general, with three-quarters (76%) of all people aged over 50 saying they had plans to volunteer during their retirement.
Australia’s leading over 50s insurance provider, Apia, announced the findings of the research today to coincide with National Volunteer Week, which runs from 9-15 May.
The research also found that the baby boomer generation are still very civic-minded, with 96% of survey respondents saying that they thought volunteering was an important way to give back to the community.
Apia Executive Manager Darren Smith said that volunteers played an important role, both in Australia and wider afield, and it was inspiring to see so many older Australians keen to get involved.
“There can often be a perception that people who are no longer in the paid workforce aren’t really contributing to society, but Apia’s research clearly shows this is not the case, with many retirees giving back to the community through volunteering roles,” Mr Smith said.
“In the midst of the damage from the floods, cyclones, bushfires and storms earlier this year we saw many inspiring stories of volunteers, both young and old, working tirelessly to assist those people and communities affected.
“And it’s not just during times of hardship that Australians are willing to give back to the community. In fact volunteers are essential to our society, with many charities and organisations relying on volunteers in order to continue to operate and provide valuable assistance across a diverse range of causes and crucial activities.
“National Volunteer Week provides a great opportunity to show our appreciation for the million Australians who volunteer every year, and Apia particularly wanted to highlight the important role played by older volunteers,” Mr Smith said.
“While they may no longer be working full-time, many inspirational retirees are still making a real difference in their communities through their volunteer contributions.”
According to Australian Volunteers International’s (AVI) Marketing and Communications Manager, Christine Crosby, more and more members of Australia’s baby boomer generation are also looking to use their skills and experience to make a difference in communities overseas.
“Currently 40% of Australians who put up their hand and contribute to Australian Volunteers International’s programs in Asia, the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East are aged over 50,” Ms Crosby said.
“Australia’s baby boomers bring a wealth of life and work experience and a range of skills to their two-year volunteer placements, and this is highly regarded in the communities they are working with around the globe. While they come from all over Australia and hail from a variety of sectors, many are motivated by the opportunity to take on a new challenge and pass on the knowledge and skills they have acquired over their working lives.
“It is a contribution that is making a lasting impact on many people’s lives in many countries,” Ms Crosby said.
Further Apia’s research also showed that Australians were getting involved in volunteerism in a variety of ways, with volunteering outdoors the most popular (28%), followed by administration (27%), food preparation (18%), teaching (17%) and fundraising (11%).
“Apia is very much aware of the tremendously positive impact that volunteers can have, and we encourage our own team to get involved by providing a day each year for every Apia staff member to volunteer in their local community,” Mr Smith said.
“Apia would encourage all Australians, whether young or old, to embrace the message of National Volunteer Week and look for opportunities to get involved in volunteering.”
Apia’s research1 also found:
- Two in every five Australians over 50 (43%) are currently involved with a charity or volunteering organisation.
- New South Wales residents aged over 50 were the most likely to say they planned to volunteer during retirement (79%), while Victorians were the least likely, coming in at a still very robust 72%.
- Females were more likely than males to have volunteering on their bucket list of things they’d like to do during retirement – 82% compared to 75%.
- Women were also more likely to currently be involved in a volunteering organisation or charity at 47%, compared to only 37% of men aged 50+.