Pre-COVID research by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimated between 25% and 29% of over-55s engage in volunteer work.

In 2022, National Seniors asked 3,655 older people how much they volunteered, in part to check how things had changed after the pandemic’s disruptions.

What we found was impressive, with 50% of those surveyed regularly volunteering. That’s almost twice the proportion counted by the AIHW.

So why the discrepancy?

Some we surveyed counted unpaid care for loved ones as volunteering, whereas the AIHW counted carers separately, so that accounts for some of it.

It’s also possible that people actively engaged in National Seniors research are more likely to do other things for their community too, like volunteering.

We did find that volunteers were more likely to feel satisfied with how they spend their time, to have positive feelings about ageing, and to believe their community offers a good quality of life.

Whatever the reason, it’s a big number.

In our report on this, we honoured the 2022 Senior Australian of the Year, Val Dempsey, by inviting her to write the foreword.

A big advocate of volunteering, she wrote, “The rewards, the special moments that provide personal growth and awareness are yours to treasure.”

To find out more, read the full report, “I make a difference in this world with what I do”: Older Australians and Volunteering here.