10 December 2019

Is there a reluctance among many in Canberra to volunteer?

| Tim Gavel
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SES volunteers

Volunteering is possible in many different areas; emergency services, sport, not-for-profit organisations, charities and fund-raising events. Photo: Supplied.

Is there too much red tape involved in volunteering? Are people too time poor to help others? Is the younger generation unwilling to volunteer? From my experience, the answers are no, no and no!

With a fortnight of massive bushfires burning throughout the region, there will no doubt be a surge in enquires from people wanting to help out as volunteer bushfire fighters.

It apparently happens every time there is a significant event such as the fires we are witnessing throughout NSW and Queensland.

But the question needs to be asked: why does it take an emergency to prompt people into volunteering?

It is not just in the volunteer bushfire fighting ranks. I’ve witnessed the same phenomenon across the charities that I’ve been involved with over the years. It happens in cycles.

Some individuals are drawn to volunteerism because it has always been a part of their life. Often, retirees find they can dedicate their time and energy to help out with a community group or a charity.

People can feel unsure about the process of volunteering and this can block involvement. It often requires some homework, paperwork and signing up for a Working with Vulnerable People card, but as most volunteers will tell you, the effort is worth it.

Time and money can preclude many.

When you’re paying a mortgage and need to spend time with the kids, it’s difficult to find the time, let alone the energy to give to others. So for some, maybe just one or two voluntary events and activities a year with the family helping out as well, will do.

There are also plenty of opportunities for parents with young families to volunteer. Sporting clubs are always desperate for coaches, managers, committee members, officials, linespeople and canteen staff.

Sport thrives on the willingness of parents and community members to ensure children have a positive experience when it comes to sport.

But I’ve decided to write about volunteerism because a number of young people have approached me recently about volunteering. And not around sport, either. They’re keen to help the disadvantaged in Canberra. Some aren’t old enough to take on roles, but others have stepped up and are thriving. It’s hard to describe the fulfilment associated with helping others but these younger Canberrans really do understand it.

It is possibly one of the greatest levellers a person can engage in. Small things in life disappear into insignificance: wi-fi down, 20-year-old daughter still asleep at 11:00 am after coming home at a ridiculous hour of the morning, the kitchen’s untidy, where is that phone charger? Life little trials become trivial.

I’ve spoken at a number of Canberra schools and other functions this year about the benefits of volunteering. Following one talk at Daramalan College, Ronald McDonald House Canberra was deluged with requests from the students to cook meals for families using RMHC facilities.

RMHC contacted Daramalan College to find out the reason for the surge in interest. The interest was always there, it just needed a prod.

Kids are often viewed collectively as selfish and self-centred. We’ve all seen it: heads down looking into the glow of their phone, or that pout as they pose for another selfie. But this doesn’t mean that they don’t have time for others.

In my experience, all that is required is a bit of steering in a direction where they can see they can help.

Once there, the benefits are enormous.

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I am too old and too sick to volunteer now but I did so when I was young, in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra. I was a Girl Guide and volunteered to be a “leader” in Melbourne and Canberra (many decades apart). In Sydney I volunteered to visit Nursing Homes. That was one of the saddest things I have ever done. Old people being neglected by their family. I didn’t last long.

Capital Retro8:21 am 23 Jan 20

Those who oppose assisted death should spend some time in a nursing home witnessing what dustytrail has seen. The children of these forgotten souls are too busy exchanging nothings on social media to worry about what is happening to their parents.

Helen Goddard1:24 pm 12 Dec 19

I spent time with CFA (Vic). We went through a phase where we found lots of folk would sign up as volunteers … which was great and they went through the training process … also great. Notwithstanding the efforts (and associated) costs to train folk, they’d then go down the road (so to speak) and join the SES and see what they had to offer. So they weren’t there for a long time, they were there for a good time – not lost to the volunteer sector, but lost to an organisation. Not sure whether it’s still the same, but if there was just one organisation it would be better — there should be no “competition” as they’re all striving for the same outcome.

I’d like to volunteer, however to be honest, due to the nature of my job makes it difficult to just drop it and go. The problem I face isnt not wanting to volunteer, but making sure I can actually pony up when needed. If I cant do that, its unfair on the organization to join up.

liberalsocialist6:26 am 12 Dec 19

Ha! To all the people who sit back and type comments on how the younger people aren’t doing anything here – it’s apparent that you yourself don’t volunteer. Having spend many, many years in the SES (since Thredbo landslide) I would suggest it’s primarily school leavers and university students, led by a smaller number of people who have since gone into understanding business/ workplace. Then there are the ‘old salts’ who’s information and advice is invaluable – but in my unit at least, half the people who head out in the trucks are 25 or under. I’m well past that stage now – but the number of energetic young people who rock up week in/ week out is fantastic.

One of the challenges facing many volunteer organisations is how to attract people from different ethnic backgrounds.

Having spent many years as a volunteer for several organisations, especially school P&Cs it is very common to attend meetings where the vast majority of volunteers are from an Anglo Saxon type background.

The photo in this article seems to suggest the SES may have a similar issue.

Good point Spiral, and it’s something I’ve noticed. The volunteers in most organisations does not match the ethnic make-up of Australia and that’s a problem now and will may become bigger in the future.

Yes, and it’s not just Canberra. From my experience talking to volunteer organisations at the local, State and Federal level the responses to the initial three questions are “no, yes and yes” rather than “no, no and no” and these questions don’t cover it by any means.

I agree with the point about organisations needing to be welcoming of potential volunteers, but there seems to be a decline in numbers coming through the door, not just of those continuing their involvement.

I wish I had answers to this problem.

Capital Retro8:25 am 11 Dec 19

The “pecking order” in some volunteer organisations appears to be worse that in the public service so if you are considered to be “a threat” you will be treated accordingly.

Yes, I volunteered for a particular organisation where the “President” was an ex Government Servant nabob. He treated the organisation and the other volunteers as if he were still Head of Branch/Head of Division/Senior Executive Service. Must have missed out on the Public Service Medal or other gong, this was his last chance to score an AO. Quite a suffocating and controlled atmosphere, I didn’t stay long.

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