Is volunteering the new sea change?
By Belle Hann
Look out, Australia! Here comes the next generation of retirees and they are here to make a difference. In this article, three recent retirees – John Anderson, Harry Morris and Leighton Crabb – tell how they are making their own 'volunteering sea changes' for the better.
Today's baby boomers are now challenging stereotypes of retirement. Rather than slowing down and switching off, they are getting involved, getting active and giving back to their community. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, baby boomers are more likely to volunteer than any other age group.
"Volunteering gives them [baby boomers] a way to keep an oar in and to be movers and shakers in a new way," claimed Jay Winsten, director of Harvard's Center for Health Communication.
In Australia, the Grey Nomad Volunteering Project was launched in 2006 in response to this new wave of volunteers. The project will connect retired skilled workers to volunteer projects in isolated towns in the outback. It is the brainchild of Professor Jenny Onyx, director of the Centre for Australian Community Organisations and Management. "They are doing something different with their retirement," Professor Onyx said. "They want adventure, to try new things, to take risks – contrary to what people expect of retirement."
John Anderson, former NSW sales manager for John Danks & Son, agreed: "Our whole new generation of retirees is active, travelling people. I think our parents' generation had more of a 'hang up your boots' mentality about retirement.
John is an active and passionate volunteer within his own community. For two days a week, he works as a community care driver for Baulkham Hills Council providing transport for elderly and frail aged residents. He also donates his time to San Snacks, the Sydney Adventist Hospital cafeteria that raises funds for hospital equipment. "I dislike the term retirement," John said. "I don't see retirement as giving up on life. It's a new chapter and a new phase of life."
"It's a totally different work dynamic," John continued. "At work, people are there because they have to be there. Volunteers are there because they want to be there. Never do I wake up dreading the day – I wake up each day with a purpose."
Many retired people are keen to apply their years of professional skills and experience in meaningful and satisfying ways. Harry Morris is a good example. Harry spent 40 years working in a highly technical engineering environment at Melbourne Air Service's Traffic Control Centre. When he retired, Harry was still capable and wanted to continue being useful but didn't want all the stresses of everyday working life.
And so Harry started volunteering with The Smith Family's Centralised Administration Process (CAP) team. CAP handles administration for The Smith Family's fieldworkers, who are then able to devote more time to their needy clients. Harry takes care of paperwork for the Learning for Life programme which donates scholarships to disadvantaged children. His role requires a high level of accuracy and Harry loves the amount of brainpower required. "It extends me," he said. "It's important that the administrative work we do is accurate – and I really have to think."
In 2006, Leighton Crabb started volunteering with Meals on Wheels, an organisation that delivers meals to people unable to cook for themselves. Formerly employed with the South Australia Water Corporation, Leighton has a wealth of customer service experience especially knowing how to deal with difficult customers. Leighton applies these customer service skills when dealing with Meals on Wheels clients face-to-face, although he is quick to point out that " … none of the Meals on Wheels clients are difficult! They are happy to see a nice, cheerful face."
Thus while some retired Australians will flee north to warmer climes (and aren't they lucky!) for 'their long-awaited sea change', others choose to volunteer in their own backyards and find that volunteering provides new friendships, meaning and satisfaction in their 'productive sea change retirement'.
The Centre
for Volunteering [ABN 28 002 416 024]
Level 2, 228 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
T: 02 9261 3600 | F: 02 9261 4033 | E: info@volunteering.com.au
www.volunteering.com.au