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Australians spend a staggering 930 million hours volunteering each year. Beyond the satisfaction of helping others, there are many surprising benefits to volunteering on the health and wellbeing of volunteers.

From improving our health and happiness to promoting strong social networks, boosting mood and making friends, our experts explain the psychology behind volunteerism and why people help others they may never otherwise meet.

1. It provides a sense of belonging

Volunteering is a great way to promote strong social networks. This is because of what鈥檚 called 鈥減rosocial behaviour鈥�, which means that what we鈥檙e doing benefits other people 鈥� this can be seen in helping, sharing, donating and volunteering.

Research聽suggests this is a beneficial way to connect with your community and build positive relationships through creating social capital, building bonds of trust, cooperation and respect for diversity.

2. It can improve your physical health

Helping others is also related to improved physical health, including weight control, lower blood pressure and relief from depression and chronic pain. Alumnus (PhD(Medicine) 鈥�98) who is affectionately referred to as 鈥楧r. Happy鈥� explains this result:

鈥淲hen we鈥檙e helping others we鈥檙e more likely to feel good about ourselves which is, not surprisingly, a positive contributor to mental health. Mental and physical health are highly correlated so when we鈥檙e psychologically well, we鈥檙e also more likely to be physically well,鈥� he says.

3. Generosity leads to greater happiness

People who 鈥済ive鈥� 鈥� either money or their time 鈥� have been reported to be happier and healthier than those who don鈥檛. Dr Rebecca Pinkus, Lecturer in Psychological Statistics says, 鈥淰olunteering keeps you in a positive mood and can help lift you out of a negative mood.鈥�

The reason for this is that helping others triggers the reward pathway in the brain known as the mesolimbic system. It releases 鈥渇eel-good鈥� neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and vasopressin. The buzz you get from these neurotransmitters is sometimes known as 鈥渢he helpers high鈥�.

Dr 聽(BA 鈥�08 BA(Hons) 鈥�10 PhD 鈥�14) is an expert on the effects of brain chemicals. He says, 鈥淓mpathy has been shown to elevate oxytocin levels in blood plasma鈥�. 鈥淲ith higher levels of empathy and oxytocin being associated with increased generosity."

This creates a 鈥渇eel-good鈥� cycle: oxytocin makes you more likely to be generous, being generous produces more oxytocin, which makes you more likely to continue being generous.

4. You could lift the mood of people around you

Ever heard of something called the 鈥榚motional contagion'? We hadn鈥檛 either. But as the name suggests, it鈥檚 contagious. When two people catch it, they tend to 鈥渕atch up鈥� emotionally.

If a person is feeling positive and enjoying the process of giving, then this spreads across to other people nearby who become significantly more likely to give as well.

5. Increase your sense of satisfaction with life

鈥淪atisfaction with life is at least partially dependent on living a life with purpose and meaning,鈥� says Dr Tim Sharp. 鈥淰olunteering provides both these things in spades. 鈥淲e feel good about ourselves when we鈥檙e doing good to and for others.鈥�

Dr Sharp is backed up by the OECD Better Life Index, which says volunteers tend to be more satisfied with their lives because they鈥檙e interacting with other people, setting and achieving goals, and learning new things.

Get involved with volunteering

Alumni volunteering opportunities

There are plenty of聽聽at the University to explore, from helping at graduations and welcoming our newest international students, to mentoring fellow alumni and assisting in philanthropy activities.

Student volunteering opportunities

The University Careers Centre is a great place to start when seeking volunteer work. Check out the聽聽for key information on finding volunteer opportunities, plus access volunteer roles via the聽.