By Dr Lindsay McMillan
More than a third (36%) of Australian workers say making a positive contribution to others is one of the most important factors to their personal wellbeing.
To mark National Volunteer Week this year, more employers should make volunteering opportunities part of their employee wellbeing plans.
It is encouraging to see large organisations take the lead on volunteering, which is good for their employees and the community.
Volunteering and service gets people to step outside of their own lives to do good, which is valuable for communities to have extra hands on deck and also great for people who volunteer.
Not only can volunteering be a chance for employees to bond, it also gives employees a sense of purpose and meaning – that their organisation and their job is not just about profit-making.
If you are feeling stuck in a rut, volunteering for a cause you are passionate about – it can be the environment or the homeless – can help you regain a sense of what is important to you.
The same survey found making positive contributions to the lives of others was just as important as housing security (35%) and a fulfilling job (34%).
National Volunteer Week held from 21 to 27 May will celebrate 6 million Australians who volunteer their time to contribute to their communities.
The Workplace Wellbeing report surveyed 1,005 Australian employees aged between 18 to 65 and with combined household incomes between $699 and $3,000 per week.
Survey respondents included employees (62%), managers (23%), owner managers (12%) and owners who do not manage their own business (2%).