Retirement is often seen as a time to relax, travel, or potter about in the garden. For many Australians however, it’s also the perfect time to rediscover purpose. With decades of wisdom, experience and compassion behind them, retirees, both women and men, are stepping up to give back to their communities in deeply meaningful ways as volunteers.

One such opportunity close to home is the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS). Run by the federal government, this popular program gently matches volunteers with older Australians who are socially isolated, whether they live in a residential care home or receive services at home. It’s as simple and rewarding as a cuppa and a chat. Volunteers typically visit once every fortnight, forging beautiful friendships along the way. You need to be over 18 and pass a National Police Check, but what’s most important is your presence, kindness and openness.

If your heart pulses for nature and the outdoors, Conservation Volunteers Australia offers a vibrant world of meaningful work across regional Australia. Think planting native trees, clearing weeds, helping native animals, or even restoring heritage sites. No specialised training is needed, just the energy to get outdoors and a willingness to work as part of a team, guided by experienced leaders. Many retirees find themselves energised by this hands-on connection to our land.

For animal lovers, the RSPCA, AWL and local shelters frequently welcome volunteers. Whether it’s helping with adoptions, animal care, foster care, or public education, there’s a warm role for everyone who loves a furry friend. These roles may ask for some training, but love and compassion for animals is truly the heart of it.

Volunteering at an art gallery or arts centre, offers a unique opportunity for people with a passion for the arts to share their enthusiasm with the greater community. Volunteers play a crucial role in making the arts more accessible, whether by assisting with exhibitions, guiding tours, or helping with educational programs that inspire creativity across all ages.

If you are tech-savvy and keen to help bridge the digital divide? Programs like Be Connected match volunteer mentors with seniors learning to navigate the online world, while others let you offer help from home, from translating documents for Translators Without Borders to taking part in Be My Eyes, where you provide assistance to people with vision impairment via a smartphone app  . No classroom, no commute, just your time, your skills, and a generous spirit.

Across Australia, Meals on Wheels branches, are in need of volunteers to help prepare meals, deliver them, and offer vital companionship to those receiving support. If you’re naturally chatty, reliable, and enjoy working as part of a team, this could be your calling.

And let’s not forget hospitals. Volunteers provide vital support by tending information desks, running music programs, giving comfort, companionship, and a sense of calm through activities like art therapy, or simply offering a friendly face and support to patients and families

Around the country, Australians give more than 700 million hours a year to volunteering, whether it be assisting the elderly, caring for the environment or animals or coaching kids’ sports.

For the solo retiree it is also a wonderful way to have connection and companionship in their life. Take 64-year-old Julie, who helps at an age care facility in Perth. “I’ve been volunteering for over four years now and thoroughly enjoy it. My husband died suddenly six years ago, and I have really struggled with being on my own. I do have kids, but they are busy working and raising their own families. I don’t want to be needy. Volunteering has given me a reason to get up in the morning. I love the company of the other volunteers and staff at the home. I feel like a have a new life of purpose.”

Phil, 71, from Ballarat, delivers for Meals on Wheels three mornings a week. “It’s not just about the food,” he says. “You might be the only person someone sees that day. A smile and a chat go a long way.”

So why not have a go, give back to the community you live in. You have spent a lifetime building skills, solving problems, and supporting others. Why not carry that legacy into your retirement, on your terms and in your own time? Volunteering could be just what you need in your life to give you purpose.

To find a volunteer role near you, visit volunteer.com.au or ask your local council for upcoming opportunities. There’s never been a better time to give back.