Why a willingness to listen and a genuine desire to help is all you need to volunteer

This year, as we celebrate the International Year of the Volunteer, we’re shining a spotlight on the people who give their time, energy and care to make a difference in their communities.

“When I first started volunteering, I just wanted to make some friends and get to know the local community. I didn’t expect to form a friendship that would mean so much to me.”

That’s how Fergus Davison describes the start of his volunteering journey with the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS) in Victoria. Having recently arrived in Australia, Fergus, who has a background in medical and paramedic studies, wanted a way to connect and form friendships with people outside of work.

Since joining the scheme, which he found on SEEK Volunteer, Fergus has dedicated a few hours each week to spending time with a gentleman living in an aged care home in his area. Through sharing stories, a love of history, and even the occasional beer, he’s discovered just how rewarding volunteering can be, both for the people he visits and for himself.

Why did he start volunteering?

For Fergus, volunteering started as a way to connect with his local community. He’d just moved to Australia, and it was harder than he thought it would be to make friends. Most of his coworkers are older, and since he didn’t go to school or university here, he didn't have a social network.

Since joining the scheme, which he found on SEEK, Fergus has dedicated a few hours each week to spending time with a gentleman living in an aged care home in his area. Through sharing stories, a love of history, and even the occasional beer, he’s discovered just how rewarding volunteering can be, both for the people he visits and for himself.

To meet people, form friendships, and feel part of the community, he decided to pick up volunteering. When he joined ACVVS, he didn't anticipate how much it would grow beyond that. After the first couple of visits, he realised the experience was about far more than making friends; it was a real way to support others, share knowledge, and feel genuinely connected to the community.

What volunteering work does he do?

Fergus has been paired with two gentlemen through the scheme, and his visits usually happen once or twice a week. He’ll spend three to four hours with them, chatting and sometimes having a beer — which is always on them, he adds. Occasionally, they’ll have a little dessert too.

Fergus’s time with one of the men often involves introducing him to new things. The elder wasn’t that familiar with the internet, so Fergus helped him understand online shopping and social media. This companion's no-nonsense attitude and curiosity about the world makes their conversations entertaining for both parties. When Fergus tried to explain to him what influencers were, he just asked, “Why would anyone care about that?” Fergus said he laughed and said, “Good point!”

A big part of Fergus’s volunteering role is simply listening. He shares some of his stories too, but mostly he just likes to hear about the residents’ lives — their cherished memories and the things that matter most to them.

One of the men had been in the aged care home for more than a decade and didn’t have many visitors, so Fergus knows his time with this particular resident is special. Fergus would ask about the decorations in his room, like a barrel of German beer which he had in the corner. The resident would then tell Fergus stories of his past, including the friends he’d shared drinks with back in Germany. Being German himself, Fergus thought it was great to be able to relate to his new friend’s stories.

What does he enjoy the most about volunteering?

For Fergus, it’s friendship. He doesn't have specific tasks or a list of things to do, it’s just about spending time with someone. Whether they’re talking about history or just having a laugh, there’s a mutual joy that comes from being with someone who values your company and is interested in what you have to say.

Little things often become funny moments. Once, Fergus showed a resident a short video from an Oasis concert he went to with his dad, and his buddy just shrugged and said, “Ah, rubbish music.” When Fergus showed him his fishing videos, he’d laugh.

Even though they weren’t into all the same things, they still found things to bond over. The resident had his own passions he’d talk about: history videos, memories of his career, and his past in general. He wasn’t big on hobbies, but the few things he loved, he was passionate about.

What’s one volunteering experience that has stayed with him?

One of the moments Fergus remembers fondly is teaching his resident how to order something online. They were trying to find a specific tool for some renovations when the man almost accidentally deleted Fergus’s account. Fergus had looked away for just a second and had turned back to see his companion “helping” in his own way. They’d both laughed hard at the near disaster.

They also had a running joke about beer. The man would ask Fergus to sneak a beer into the aged care home for him, and Fergus would check with the nurses first, then pretend he’d smuggled one in. Unexpected moments like these make their time together fun.

What has Fergus gotten out of volunteering?

Fergus has gained much more than he expected. Initially, he thought the gig would just help him meet people and be a good addition to his CV for medical school applications. But it ended up giving him much more. His visits to the aged care home turned out to be affirming for him as well – no different from meeting up and talking with friends his own age.

Volunteering has allowed him to make meaningful connections, gain insight into other people’s lives, and see how important companionship is for people of any age.

It has also taught him patience, listening skills, and how to build relationships with people outside his own age group – all important work skills to learn. He has also learned more about life through at the aged care facility. While he has shared knowledge about things like technology, his residents have taught him about resilience, sharing wisdom and general life advice.

Does he have any advice for those who might be considering volunteering?

“Don't overthink it,” he says. The main qualities of a great volunteer are kindness, a willingness to listen, patience, and a genuine desire to help. Older people are full of stories and life lessons. If you take the time to learn from them, you’ll come away with much more than you ever expected.