Healthdirect Free Australian health advice you can count on.

Medical problem? Call 1800 022 222. If you need urgent medical help, call triple zero immediately

healthdirect Australia is a free service where you can talk to a nurse or doctor who can help you know what to do.

beginning of content

Benefits of volunteering

3-minute read

Being a volunteer has lots of benefits. It can bring meaning and purpose to your life, while increasing your self-esteem and wellbeing. Volunteering can also relieve stress, and alleviate symptoms of depression. As well as having a positive impact on your community, volunteering can improve your relationships.

Volunteering explained

Volunteering is spending time willingly to help someone else without being paid. It can be formal or informal. Informal volunteering includes helping friends and family with things like babysitting, home repairs or caring. Formal volunteering usually takes place through a charity or other not-for-profit or community organisation.

There are many organisations that actively seek volunteers. These include areas such as:

What do you hope to get out of volunteering?

Volunteering can be very meaningful and enjoyable, and in turn may be good for your mental health and wellbeing.

Volunteering can:

  • give you a sense of achievement and purpose
  • help you feel part of a community
  • help you feel better about yourself by improving your self-esteem and confidence
  • help you share your talents, learn new skills and create a better work-life balance
  • help combat stress, loneliness, social isolation and depression
  • help you meet new people, which can help you feel more connected and valued

Social benefits of volunteering

Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and build healthy relationships. It strengthens your ties to the community and exposes you to people with similar interests.

Volunteering also gives you the opportunity to practise and develop your social skills.

Because volunteering keeps you in regular contact with others, it can also help you develop a solid support base. As well as helping to protect you against stress and depression, volunteering can help with mental health recovery.

More information

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: September 2021


Back To Top

Need more information?

These trusted information partners have more on this topic.

Top results

Pets and mental health | Coping | ReachOut Australia

We all know that pets doing hilarious things win the internet, but did you know that pets can also be winners for mental health, too?

Read more on ReachOut.com website

Purposeful activity - volunteering | Head to Health

Volunteering can be a great way to add purpose to your life. A few hours of volunteer work can improve your mood, while regular volunteering is linked to better overall mental health.

Read more on Head to Health website

Loneliness and isolation - Griefline

Loneliness and social isolation have become significant health and wellbeing issues in Australia and most parts of the Western world.

Read more on Griefline website

Find a mental health professional - Beyond Blue

What’s the difference between a psychologist and counsellor? Learn what different professionals do and find mental health services near you.

Read more on Beyond Blue website

How to get mental health support - Services Australia

Free counselling and additional mental health support for individuals, families and emergency services workers affected by the bushfires.

Read more on Medicare website

What is loneliness and how can we overcome it during these times? - Black Dog Institute

Read more on Black Dog Institute website

Mental health for blokes

Sometimes you might be feeling stressed, anxious or angry, or just need to talk to someone. There are services that can help

Read more on WA Health website

Mental health in rural and remote Australia

The reported prevalence of mental illness in rural and remote Australia appears similar to that of major cities.

Read more on National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) website

Being there to reduce mental health and alcohol problems - Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Who do you talk with when you’re about to make a big decision? It’s all about trust. Trust makes relationships work: it helps people start a family, buy a house together, or begin a new life overseas. Trusting relationships are also formed in our local community.

Read more on Alcohol and Drug Foundation website

Experiences of Grief - Griefline

Grief is a universal human experience affecting each of us differently.

Read more on Griefline website

Healthdirect 24hr 7 days a week hotline

24 hour health advice you can count on

1800 022 222

Government Accredited with over 140 information partners

We are a government-funded service, providing quality, approved health information and advice

Australian Government, health department logo ACT Government logo New South Wales government, health department logo Northen Territory Government logo Government of South Australia, health department logo Tasmanian government logo Victorian government logo Government of Western Australia, health department logo

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.