While many Australians stopped volunteering during the pandemic, for others, COVID has exposed the surprising reasons so many of us enjoy giving back to our communities, writes Emma Myers.
Michele Bake is "mad keen" on crocheting and the proud owner of a 400-cow dairy farm which she runs with her husband near Coffs Harbour on the NSW north coast.
Michele took her volunteering a step further and in 2020 trained as a crisis supporter with Lifeline. Strikingly, only about half of those who stopped volunteering in 2020 resumed in the 12 months to April last year, despite the easing of lockdowns and social distancing restrictions.While many associate volunteering with helping others, the act of volunteering is also strongly linked with life satisfaction for the person who offers their time.
But Sonny is glad to be back: "Volunteering has so many benefits. The act of giving back is one but it's also good for the mind."Volunteering has become a big part of life for Sonny, who volunteers alongside his paide job as a service delivery manager in Sydney, and a passion for fitness bootcamps.
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