Volunteering leads to a greater sense of wellbeing

by Leith Hillard, CFA Public Affairs

The inaugural Australian What makes us happy? report was launched this month, the culmination of seven years of research into the personal and national sense of wellbeing of Australians. It defines wellbeing as different from happiness. Happiness can come and go in a moment, whereas wellbeing is a more stable state of being well, feeling satisfied and contented.

Within the employment section, there is a consideration of volunteering as both an indicator of wellbeing and a contributing factor in a personal sense of wellbeing. The report says:

The happiest employment group of all are those who are either semi or fully retired. Full time volunteers, however, come in close behind them. There is also a marked increase in wellbeing in people who are full time employed, full time retired or unemployed when they engage in part time volunteer work.

Volunteers tend to have higher levels of wellbeing. Or is it that people with higher wellbeing tend to volunteer? It’s not an easy one to conclude, but it is most likely a combination of both.

When we are feeling good, we are more likely to do some good and contribute to society positively. But in reverse, community connection and engagement is important to our sense of wellbeing. A combination of the interaction provided by volunteering and the personal satisfaction achieved is likely to have a positive impact on our happiness.

The report has been completed in a partnership between Australian Unity and Deakin University and is part of the creation of an Australian Wellbeing Index.

The Index is a subjective measure that investigates how Australians feel about their life and life in Australia. It rates our satisfaction with various aspects of life – both personal aspects such as our relationships with others and national aspects such as our satisfaction with government.

Elements of the Personal Wellbeing Index are satisfaction with:

• your health;
• your personal relationships;
• how safe you feel;
• your standard of living;
• what you are achieving in life;
• feeling part of the community; and
• your future security.

Each year a survey involves a fresh national sample of 2000 people that proportionately represents Australia’s geographically-diverse population. All survey participants are aged 18 years and over.

To read the report in full, click here.