Elsie Prieve was hopeful she could easily get a job when she first came to Queensland five years ago.
She’s fluent in English, Japanese and Tagalog with years of experience in aged care, hospitality and customer service.
But finding work in Australia proved harder than she expected.
She decided to join local NGO Access Community Services as a volunteer receptionist.
Elsie started by volunteering twice a week.
Within three months, she was offered a full-time work placement that led to a permanent role as receptionist and administrator.
It’s not uncommon for volunteers to become full-time workers says Gail Kerr who heads Access Community Services - ten per cent of her staff were former volunteers of the organisation.
Volunteering can come in all forms.
Most Australians volunteer their time in sports and physical recreation, community and welfare, religious groups, parenting and childcare.
Dr John Falzon, who heads St Vincent de Paul Society, more commonly known as “Vinnies”, says there’re around 60,000 volunteers working with the charity.
A report on health, happiness and helping others by The International Journal of Person Centred Medicine shows that 96 per cent of volunteers report being happier from their charitable work.
Dr John Falzon says simple acts of kindness can also restore dignity in those struggling with the everyday reality of life.
For more information about how and where to volunteer, you can visit the Volunteering Australia website.
