Volunteering among Australian adolescents : Findings from a national study

Ninety-three young Australians were interviewed about volunteering as part of a larger three-stage study on youth spirituality and social concern. The results indicate that young people who were older, better educated and had access to networks and mentoring were more likely to be engaged in social-cause service than those without these resources. Social-cause service involves volunteers having direct involvement in causes or activities that help people who are in need, are disadvantaged or marginalised. In comparison, standard-cause service involves volunteers working in activities which assist other people but do not involve direct exposure to them or to issues of inequality or injustice in society. Respondents who engaged in social-cause service saw clear benefits for themselves as well as for the group with whom they were serving.