Meet Luise, a volunteer with Springfield Lakes Nature Care Inc’s Landcare group, sharing her journey as part of our ‘Share Your Story’ series.
Accomplishment and Self-Worth
“Volunteering provides me a feeling of accomplishment and self-worth. In my regular job, I never felt valued by my employer or co-workers. But when I volunteered, I was immediately intrinsically rewarded. I could see that everything I did made a difference to the environment and my community as a whole. I felt appreciated, and soon others in the community began telling me how much they appreciated the valuable work I was doing in the environment, which made me want to do more.”
Taking the Initiative to Start a Landcare Group
“I thought no one else was doing it, not the council whose role it was to keep waterways clean, and the state government wasn’t doing any on-ground work. So, I put my hand up to start a Landcare group. I became very passionate about volunteering to help the wildlife that needed humans to help improve ecosystems, so it became an ‘if not me, then who would take up the challenge.'”
Personal Benefits of Volunteering
“I also received benefits as my mental health improved when working outdoors and in nature. I made many friends outside of my work who have supported me and the projects we have undertaken. Working outdoors keeps me fit physically and provides a lot of enjoyment. My self-esteem improved, and I finally felt like a leader and a respected member of the community, something that was missing from my paid work.”
Skills and Community
“I also received a lot of new skills and found I enjoyed liaising with adults and trying to solve real-life environmental issues to make our community a greener and cleaner place. I found a new tribe of people to belong to; they were supportive and caring without competition, and I felt safe and happy. That is a large reason why I volunteer, and if I didn’t volunteer, what else would I do?”
Encouragement to Future Volunteers
“I would say give volunteering a go; you might be pleasantly surprised how good you feel afterward. Doing something for someone or something that is unable to is a really wonderful way to feel better about yourself and the world in which we live. It could be doing fundraising with a group of friends to assist an organization, but whatever you choose, be passionate about the cause.”
Finding the Right Fit
“I suggest looking at what you are passionate about or where you feel there is a need in your local community. Perhaps ask if you can volunteer at an event for an organization before you commit and try a few different places until you find the right fit. Find somewhere local where you can volunteer and get information about what you might be required to do, how much time you need to commit, or any online training that might be needed or upfront costs. Because once you’ve decided to commit to an organization, the organization often absorbs costs, and you also invest your time and time away from others. Find a partner to come with you who shares the same values; that will also keep you focused.”
Photo Descriptions
- Litter Discovery Lake: A family with my sister, husband, and daughter during a kayaking outing in Discovery Lake where we collected all this litter as part of the Clean Up Australia Day event.
- Earth Day Event 2021: Myself in orange in the middle with all the Bushcare members who came to help plant native trees as part of our Earth Day event in 2021. Surrounded by a tribe of like-minded people all wanting to achieve the same outcome, helping the environment.
- Nocturnal Spotlight Survey: Myself in an orange long-sleeved shirt along with a group of spotlight participants, doing a nocturnal spotlight survey of a local conservation estate, looking for gliders and monitoring the biodiversity. Documenting the biodiversity helps us protect what we have. People giving up their time for nature makes this type of activity fun.
