I’ve retired and now I’m supposed to work for free! Volunteering, what's in it for me?

Since starting the Golfing Counsellor and having a firm focus on supporting people in retirement I have learned so much about the key issues facing people in retirement.  One of the key themes (particularly in the older retirees) is social contribution.  A question I love to ask those approaching 80 and over is “ if you had a time machine, what would you do differently?” I often hear, “I wish I had given back more to my community, it’s what brings me joy and real meaning in my life”.  So, in the landscape of our lives I believe that

giving back and embracing altruism is a crucial part of finding joy and a sense of purpose and meaning in our lives.

A little background on my experience of Volunteering.  When I studied to be a Counsellor one of the things they tell us is to go a volunteer to gain real world experience.  I had been in the hospitality industry for 18 years and had been working and running some of Melbourne’s best restaurants.  I did not have a CV, didn’t need one, I was offered jobs all the time so I thought, this volunteering business will be easy, not the case.  I remember sitting on a balcony with my girlfriend (now wife) flabbergasted that I was being rejected,

“don’t they know that I used to be offered paying jobs all the time, don’t they know that I will work for free?” 

Being honest I was annoyed, frustrated and I thought maybe this isn’t for me.  I did however continue to search and found an organisation that was a good fit and my volunteering journey started.  It cost close to $1000 to do the required training, 2 weeks full time intensive and at the end of that I was still on probation, seriously!

Moving forward a few years and the volunteering opportunity that I undertook has not only changed the course of my life but that of the most important people in my life, my community and has been one of the most profound experiences of my life.  To say that I got more than I gave is an understatement.

Volunteering checklist for retirees

• Have a think about what will get you out of bed in the morning.

• What will bring you joy.

• Where you might meet like-minded people.

• Do you want to be inside or outside.

• Do you speak another language?

• What skills do you have that you can utilise?

• What did you want to do when you were younger and money was not part of your decision making?

• How much time do you want to spend volunteering? (Some organisations have minimum requirements)

Volunteering opportunities to consider:

• Volunteer at the Grand Prix

• A Golf Tournament

• Become a Red Jacket and show people around the CBD

• Read books to children in hospital

• The war memorial

• Local Church

• Get on a board

• Community Gardening (I have a friend who mows lawns for the elderly in his area for free)

• Food Bank

• Knitting beanies for newborns or disadvantaged children overseas

• Moomba Festival or community Festivals

• Mentoring, the more time young people spend with positive adult role models exponentially increases their opportunity for success across the board, you can make a huge impact and all it takes is time

Volunteering Resources in Victoria

• Look at your local government website and they will list out all the positions in your area, here is a link to my local council  https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/our-community/volunteering#search

• Branch out and look at your state:  https://www.volunteeringvictoria.org.au/for-volunteers/search-for-volunteer-roles/

• Australia wide:  https://www.volunteeringaustralia.org/#/

• You will need a CV and a cover letter, here are a few tips:  https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/resumes-cover-letters/volunteer-cover-letter

As you can see the options are endless.  My advice is to look around and try a few things, be brave and throw yourself out there.  Volunteering is an opportunity to increase your friendship groups, get you out of bed in the morning, give you purpose and meaning and you can fill your calendar as much as you want.  Don’t be bored, lonely and isolated in retirement, get out there and if you would further support hit me up on the website.