Page 18 - YOU Magazine | Issue 2

In writing about his experiences to others considering volunteering, Mark - who was born without legs and minus
one arm as well as a “few minor league impairments” – noted “there will always be people
that don’t expect to see you volunteering”.
“I was never keen on holding a bucket outside a shopping centre, or arena, or pretty much anywhere, because of some people’s reactions. When I did it for [a local cancer charity], people would often arrive at my bucket and bizarrely blurt out: ‘Well that must have been a vicious cancer mate’ or ‘sorry it’s left you like that’.
“That’s why it’s so important that disabled people get involved in volunteering – it’s a great way to make a change to how society sees us.”
The bright side
The good news is that as part
of the recent VA study, the
ANU research team was also able to look at the impact of COVID-19 on life satisfaction, psychological stress and loneliness among the volunteers.
Their findings helped to demonstrate the protective mental health value of volunteering.
They discovered that those who were able to continue volunteering during COVID-19 had better life satisfaction and psychological stress outcomes than those who had to stop or who had never volunteered in the first place.
The data also showed that those who continued volunteering experienced less loneliness.
The way forward
Global health pandemics aside, organisations with an interest in getting more seniors and those living with disability into volunteer positions say new opportunities are emerging all the time.
Inclusion Melbourne, which has developed a publication called Include Me! to help businesses, not-for-profit organisations
and community groups who are looking at ways to be more
inclusive, claims activities involving community groups have long been a field in which volunteering is critical, although these opportunities have not always been perceived as volunteering.
It says the types of internships, work experience positions and volunteer roles traditionally undertaken include everything from planning events or fundraising and stocktake
to gardening and offering guided tours.
However, virtual volunteering is also gaining traction as a way seniors, or those living with disability can lend a hand.
Tasks include creating and
or maintaining websites for an organisation, performing online research, providing technical assistance to staff and clients,
and helping with online marketing and communications.
Other online work can involve writing grant and sponsorship proposals or mentoring across a range of activities.
Julyne, whose experiences
led to her being asked onto the steering committee panel for both
Department of Health and Human Services and Victoria Live, says volunteering has afforded her the chance to challenge perceptions of what disability looks like.
At a personal level, there has also been many benefits, she says.
“I started out just doing odd jobs that needed doing then as my confidence grew I asked if I could work in reception greeting people and doing some administrative work like answering the phone and filing. I love what I do. It gives me some purpose and structure in my life.
“What I get out of being a volunteer is a feeling of having a bit of control back in my life, more confidence and I don’t have that empty feeling anymore. I get a feeling of being accepted for who I am, not my disability.”
18 WINTER 2020 You