5 Reasons Why You Should Volunteer
Donating your time and skills as a volunteer is a generous and impactful way to create social change and make a difference in your community. Volunteers play an important role in the not-for-profit sector and their contribution to charitable organisations like the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS) is invaluable.
Volunteering offers benefits to you as well, such as improving your emotional and mental well-being, while uplifting your self-esteem and providing a sense of purpose.
If you’ve ever watched the news about the hardships people seeking asylum face and thought, I wish I could help, then volunteering is a great way to do just that!
HERE ARE FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER:
1. VOLUNTEERING IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEALTH
Volunteering is good for your mental and emotional health, which benefits your physical health too.
A random act of kindness or doing something selfless makes us feel good about ourselves. There is scientific evidence that helping others improves your mood as feel-good chemicals are released in your brain, such as serotonin and dopamine. Endorphins are also released, which helps reduce stress.
Your improved well-being can drive motivation and boost your self-esteem, sense of worth and achievement.
2. VOLUNTEERING HELPS YOU USE YOUR SKILLS FOR A WORTHY CAUSE
Whether you’ve retired, are working or completing your tertiary education – you have many skills that can be beneficial to an organisation like RACS. While volunteers from a legal background are always in high demand, skilled roles from other qualifications are also needed. These include IT support, web development and analytics, as well as design, photography, marketing and communications.
We’re always on the lookout for general admin and office volunteers to answer calls and there are many other areas your support can be beneficial in. For example, volunteers are essential when it comes to implementing community fundraising events, manning stalls and kiosks, handing out flyer and helping promote merchandise.
3. VOLUNTEERING IS A GOOD WAY TO MEET PEOPLE
Volunteering is a good way to connect with likeminded people who care about the things that are important to you. For instance, people who choose to donate their time and efforts to RACS care about a just and fair legal system. They also feel compassion and empathy towards people who have been forced to flee their homes because they fear persecution due to their diverse gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, political views or cultural background.
Being a volunteer gives you a sense of belonging and community, where you’re able to share ideas and nurture meaningful friendships that can last a lifetime. It’s a great way to build a support system.
4. VOLUNTEERING HELPS YOU LEARN NEW SKILLS
It’s never too late (or soon!) to learn a new skill or gain knowledge about a sector or industry that you aren’t familiar with. Volunteering can expose you to fresh ideas or existing issues that you weren’t aware of. People who volunteer at community legal centres gain a general understanding of the importance of the niche services these organisations offer for free to neglected, forgotten or under-resourced groups in our communities. In the case of RACS, it’s to people seeking asylum in Australia.
“I have had the opportunity to learn and observe how refugee laws operate in Australia in a safe and supportive environment,” says Emily, a RACS volunteer.
“Volunteering with RACS is a rewarding and fulfilling experience… RACS is an incredible organisation that treats their clients, staff, and volunteers with equal dignity, care, and compassion. It truly is a privilege to be a part of such an amazing team,” Emily adds.
5. VOLUNTEERING HELPS YOU GAIN PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
If you are a recent graduate or finishing your studies, volunteering can be beneficial to creating your professional network, while gaining work experience. It’s an excellent way to hone your soft skills, whether it’s working as part of a team, improving your communication skills and engaging in problem-solving in a real-life work scenario.
Volunteering can also be a good opportunity to put into practice hard skills you’ve learned as part of your course work.
"I would highly recommend that you come volunteer at RACS. It will be a refreshing change away from your structured university studies, and a unique opportunity to learn about refugee and asylum policies from some of the most highly skilled and passionate lawyers. Not only will you get personal fulfilment but you’ll also gain practical work experience, and meet wonderful people," says Ren, RACS Volunteer.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER WITH RACS?
RACS is not-for-profit community legal centre that has been providing essential legal assistance and representation for over 35 years to people seeking asylum, refugees, and displaced people.
RACS provides free support to people who have been forced to flee their home, through no fault of their own, and have reached Australia in search of safety after enduring a tumultuous journey. We help them navigate Australia’s complicated legal system.
Our volunteers play an important role in helping us do this life-changing work. Find out why you should volunteer for RACS.
As a community legal centre, many people are aware of the opportunities to complete their practical legal training or other legal internship with RACS. However, there are plenty of opportunities at all skill levels from general office support, answering phones and data entry, to more specialised roles, including IT support, graphic design, photography, marketing and communications.