CensusAtlas

Indicator

Volunteers

The share of people aged 15 and over who did voluntary work through an organisation or group in the year before the Census.

How to read it: Volunteering is a common proxy for social connectedness and the strength of local community organisations.

Australia over time

14.1% in 2021 ▼ -20.7%

Explore on the map

See how volunteering varies across Australia.

By block (sa1) By statistical area 2 (sa2) By postcode By council (lga) By sub-region (sa3) By region (sa4) By capital city By state / territory By australia By suburb / locality By urban area By urban centre By federal electorate By state electorate By section of state By section of state range By remoteness area

Highest areas

SA2 areas with the highest volunteering (2021 Census).

  1. Naracoorte Surrounds 39.5%
  2. Le Hunte - Elliston 38.5%
  3. Gnowangerup 38.1%
  4. Flinders and Cape Barren Islands 37.7%
  5. Acton 37.6%
  6. Kimba - Cleve - Franklin Harbour 36.7%

Related indicators

People providing unpaid care View → People caring for children unpaid View → People who served in the Defence Force View → People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework View →

Frequently asked questions

What is Volunteers in Australia?

At the 2021 Census, Volunteers across Australia was 14.1%. The share of people aged 15 and over who did voluntary work through an organisation or group in the year before the Census.

How is Volunteers measured?

Share of people aged 15+ who did voluntary work for an organisation or group. It is calculated as a percentage of the relevant population or dwellings, so it can be compared fairly between large and small areas.

Why does Volunteers matter?

Volunteering is a common proxy for social connectedness and the strength of local community organisations.

How does Volunteers vary across Australia?

Across the 2,383 SA2 areas with data, Volunteers ranges from 0.0% to 39.5%, with a typical (median) area at 14.5%. Most areas cluster toward the lower end, with a smaller number of much higher areas stretching the range.

Can Volunteers be compared across censuses?

Yes — Volunteers is measured consistently enough to compare across the 2011, 2016 and 2021 Censuses, so the trend over time is meaningful. Nationally it has fallen from 17.8% in 2011 to 14.1% in 2021.

Where can I see Volunteers for my area?

Use the interactive map to compare Volunteers down to block (sa1) and statistical area 2 (sa2) level, or search any suburb, postcode or council area to see its value in context against state and national figures.

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Volunteers [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/indicator/share-volunteers