Older-person volunteering in rural and regional Australia: Recruitment, retention, and health benefits.

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    • Abstract:
      Australian volunteer agencies are experiencing a shortage of volunteers along with an ageing workforce population. An examination was made of the current volunteer population at a regional Australian center (St. Vincent de Paul) in relation to recruitment and retention. A 30-question multiple-choice questionnaire examined the factors that affect volunteers’ capacity to engage in work with the agency. The questions were subdivided into the following categories: volunteer demographics; views regarding volunteer work in Australia; volunteer health and wellbeing; and the transport needs of the volunteers. The data were analyzed with a focus on assessing views on volunteer work in Australia. An examination was then made of the impact of chronic health conditions, and areas were identified that may enhance support for volunteers. Although chronic health conditions were not of major concern in this study, further studies are needed to clarify the physical, psychological, and social benefits of volunteering in the regional Australian context. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]