National Volunteers Week opens hearts and doors

And volunteering is an easy and rewarding way to re-engage with the world.

Retired carpenter Pete (pictured) feels revitalised as they get back into the swing of things at the Uniting AgeWell Centre in Hawthorn.

These days it's abuzz with laughter, people hammering and yammering in the well-equipped Men's Shed, others exercising, and a group about to head off on a bus trip to the beach.

Knocking on wood has never felt so good, says volunteer Pete Slattery.

"We are put on this earth to help others," Pete, 80, explains. "It's wonderful to be able to assist people in enjoying themselves and learning new skills."

And Pete loves seeing the sheer joy on participants' faces when they restore broken furniture and create beautiful objects to be passed down for future generations - like a rocking horse in the shape of a swan for a beloved Swan Princess granddaughter, chess sets or fruit bowls.

Someone even made a high chair for a dog with swallowing problems who needed to sit upright to eat.

National Volunteer Week is a chance for all of us to celebrate and recognise the vital work of volunteers and to say thank you. Through volunteering, we are changing communities for the better.

Endorsing this "giving it a go" approach is newly-minted Order of Australia Merit Award recipient Ruth Hosking.

Last week Ruth attended an official ceremony at the Governor General's residence in Melbourne to receive an OAM for her services to aged care.

Ruth has racked up a collection of awards since she first started volunteering at Strath-Haven Community in Bendigo nearly 30 years ago, meeting with older people and their families and helping them transition into residential aged care.

The 89-year-old is now on three national committees helping shape the face of aged care in Australia.

And following a submission she made to the Royal Commission on Aged Care Quality and Safety, she diligently ensures its recommendations are taken into account.

Another person whose life has been changed by volunteering is Cassie Wallace.

While there's a 60 year age gap between herself and Ruth, volunteering has given both of them a sense of purpose. It has also launched Cassie's career.

She explains: "I was an unemployed Bachelor of Arts graduate sitting on my butt at home for 18 months and needed to do something."

So she started volunteering one day a week in an admin position with Uniting AgeWell, which evolved into a full-time role in the rostering team.

Now the 31-year-old heads up the team and has recently completed a leadership training course intended to develop emerging leaders.

"You'd be surprised how much volunteering teaches you and how many career doors it opens," Cassie says.