Volunteering to help individuals can build skills and knowledge, enhance employment opportunities, provide new and challenging experiences as well as deliver feelings of personal satisfaction through contributing, a new survey has found.
It also delivers measurable benefits to those being supported; including help in finding work and acquiring skills as well intangible and benefits such as friendship and building connections within communities, the survey found.
To mark National Volunteer Week 2026, the survey was commissioned by migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia. It canvased the attitudes of 85 of the organisation’s volunteers working mostly one-on-one with newly arrived refugees and migrants.
It found that overwhelmingly, volunteers believed they, themselves, benefitted directly through helping others.
Asked whether they benefited from their volunteering work, 32 percent of volunteers said they benefited ‘significantly’ and 78 percent said they benefitted ‘somewhat’.
Among the top benefits listed were ‘a feeling of satisfaction through contributing’ (96 per cent), ‘learning about new cultures (77 per cent), ‘building social and professional networks’ (59 per cent), ‘improving personal and communication (soft) skills’ and ‘enhancing employment opportunities’ (39 per cent).
The survey also found that volunteers believed their work delivered practical and intangible benefits to those being supported.
Ninety-six per cent of volunteers said their work delivered either ‘significant’ or ‘some’ benefits to those being supported and just 4 per cent were ‘not sure’.
Among the top benefits to those being supported listed were ‘language acquisition support’ (91 per cent), ‘friendship’ (96 per cent), ‘building connections with local communities’ (68 per cent), ‘practical support in navigating life in Australia’ (53 per cent), ‘understanding how to access services’ (56 per cent) and ‘help in finding employment’ (38 per cent).
The survey found broad satisfaction with the experience of volunteering and a general feeling that it was productive.
Fifty-four per cent of volunteers were ‘very satisfied’ with the experience, while 38 per cent were ‘somewhat’ satisfied and 8 per cent were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied.
Sixty-nine per cent of respondents said they felt their volunteering was ‘very productive’ and 21 per cent said it was ‘somewhat productive’ while ten per cent were ‘not sure’.
Among the challenges in volunteering cited in the survey were ‘time restrictions’ (39 per cent) and ‘language barriers’ (27 per cent).
Overwhelmingly, volunteers surveyed were likely to recommend the experience to family and friends with 62 per cent saying they were ‘very likely’ to do so and 23 per cent saying they were ‘likely’ to do so. Ten per cent said they were neither likely nor unlikely to do so.
More than half (47 per cent) of the volunteers surveyed were aged between 45 and 64 and 20 per cent were aged 25 to 34.
Indian migrant Shaleena Shaik says volunteering helps her meet people and understand more about Australia.
The former lawyer says she also find satisfaction in helping newly arrived people learn English and settle into a new community.
“I started volunteering a year ago and it has helped me meet people and better understand how things work in Australia,” Shaleena said.
“I’ve been helping out in English conversation classes for new arrivals. I’ve also helped out with Mother’s Day and Christmas events.
“I really enjoy volunteering. It is rewarding to be able to help people start new lives in Australia. But I have benefitted also in meeting new people and getting a better understanding how things work and the social and professional environment.
“It’s a great opportunity to learn about Australia.”
Shaleena volunteers for migrant and refugee settlement agency AMES Australia in Werribee and Footscray.
“For me it is also an opportunity to gain some Australian workplace experience,” she said.
AMES Australia CEO Melinda Collinson said the survey showed the added value volunteers can bring to an organisation.
“Our volunteers at AMES Australia to an amazing job in supporting our refugee and migrant clients and making a real difference in their lives. This gives our organisation extra reach and extra capacity,” Ms Scarth said.
“But the survey shows that volunteers also get benefits out of volunteering; and not just the feel-good effect of doing something selfless but also valuable skills, experiences and knowledge,” she said.