Walk into most op shops and you’ll be greeted by a woman in her ripened years. She’ll readily help you find what you need, rifling through boxes of clothes or sorting through kitchen utensils in her bid to assist.
It is a common perception that this job is restricted to
‘old ladies’ or, quite the opposite, that this is the only role these women can
fulfil.
With 6.4 million people volunteering across Australia, it’s
the Baby Boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) who do the most.
With more life and work experience than the younger
generations, older people bring a range of skills that make them perfect to cover all manner of volunteer roles that are otherwise hard to fill.
Although hands on roles, such as volunteering at a local
nursing home, community garden or Scout group feels more important, becoming a
member on a community board is just as important. These board roles require different skill sets, from
treasurer to fundraising and events coordinator, looking to make things happen or change the local community for the better.
Regardless of your skills you’ve developed over your
lifetime, and whether you prefer hands on manual work, working with people, or
managing the finances or ensuring the behind the scenes runs smoothly, your
volunteering brings attributes organisations can’t access from the younger
generations.
You have the power to change the world you’re living in for the better, and to leave a better community for younger generations.
