Let this be your sign: Take the leave, no regrets

I’ve always loved community service.

At school, I was desperate to be selected as the class ‘Social Service Leader’ and help collect gold coins for free dress fundraisers. I gave up all technology for 40 hours for World Vision (deeply concerned about the electronic scoreboard at my indoor netball game), read books for the MS Readathon, and did laps of Albert Park Lake in costume to support Cancer Council’s Relay For Life.

I cared about these causes because I cared about the people and communities behind them. And all these years later, that hasn’t changed.

What has changed, though, is my time – and how much I realistically have to give.

Let’s face it, life is busy. There’s always that next deadline, another commitment, or the promise of a ‘quiet period’ that never quite eventuates. That one big project finally wraps up, only to be quickly replaced by another.

Sound familiar? It’s a challenge I know I’m not alone in facing. Our latest State of Volunteering Report identified lack of time as a major barrier to volunteering, with work or study commitments being the most common limiting factor (for 46% of existing volunteers and 42% of non-volunteers). For many of us, the willingness is there. Sometimes it’s simply about finding a way to make it possible.

And one solution could be sitting in your employee handbook.
Volunteer leave: paid time away from your usual work to volunteer.

Last week, I spent a few days volunteering alongside the Special Olympics Australia team at the 2026 National Games. Held every four years, the Games brought over 850 athletes with intellectual disability and/or autism to Melbourne for a week of competition across 12 sports.

But what struck me most wasn’t the results or the medals. It was the overwhelming joy of everyone involved. At a time when it’s all too easy to focus on what’s wrong with the world, this was a wonderful reminder of the good: connection, camaraderie, and finding your community.

In all honesty, the timing wasn’t great for me. I was right in the middle of multiple projects with firm – and rapidly approaching – deadlines. There were plenty of reasons to convince myself that I was too busy.

But I went anyway. And I’m so glad I did.

For a few days, I stepped away from my usual routine, met some wonderful people and got to be part of something truly special. And it reminded me why I’d loved volunteering in the first place.

So, if volunteer leave is part of your workplace entitlements, take it.

Take the opportunity to step away from the inbox, Teams notifications and spreadsheets. Find something you care about. Something that warms your heart and fills your cup. If you’re not sure whether it’s available to you, perhaps this is your sign to ask.

Sometimes things genuinely can’t wait. But more often than not, they can.

And for those of us working in the volunteering sector, there’s an added benefit. Experiencing volunteering from the other side can be incredibly informative. I found it fascinating to see the process through a volunteer’s eyes: what worked well, where the hurdles were, and how I was made to feel along the way.

Heck, call it professional development!

Now, I’ve returned to my desk feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the end-of-year rush. Yes, all the same tasks I postponed are still waiting for me. The deadlines haven’t disappeared and my inbox certainly hasn’t emptied itself.

But a year from now, I doubt I’ll remember what was sitting on my to-do list that week. Instead, I’ll look back on the utter joy radiating from those athletes and how lucky I felt to be part of it. No regrets.