Dorset · Council (LGA)

Community Participation in Dorset

How people contribute — volunteering, unpaid care and domestic work, and defence service.

Fewer people in Dorset have spent time volunteering and doing unpaid housework since 2011. This community is still more active in these roles than most, with 20.7% of residents volunteering. It is a place where people frequently step up to help others, both through formal volunteering and providing unpaid care.

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📍 Dorset, Council (LGA)

Where Dorset sits — Volunteers

20.7% ▼ -6.0%
  • 5.0%–6.3%: 22 areas
  • 6.3%–7.5%: 15 areas
  • 7.5%–8.8%: 10 areas
  • 8.8%–10.0%: 15 areas
  • 10.0%–11.3%: 18 areas
  • 11.3%–12.5%: 22 areas
  • 12.5%–13.8%: 34 areas
  • 13.8%–15.0%: 42 areas
  • 15.0%–16.3%: 53 areas
  • 16.3%–17.5%: 53 areas
  • 17.5%–18.8%: 35 areas
  • 18.8%–20.0%: 34 areas
  • 20.0%–21.3%: 30 areas
  • 21.3%–22.5%: 27 areas
  • 22.5%–23.8%: 22 areas
  • 23.8%–25.0%: 24 areas
  • 25.0%–26.3%: 15 areas
  • 26.3%–27.5%: 9 areas
  • 27.5%–28.8%: 16 areas
  • 28.8%–30.0%: 12 areas
  • 30.0%–31.3%: 10 areas
  • 31.3%–32.5%: 7 areas
  • 32.5%–33.8%: 10 areas
  • 33.8%–35.0%: 6 areas
  • 35.0%–36.3%: 4 areas
  • 36.3%–37.5%: 3 areas
  • 37.5%–38.8%: 4 areas
  • 38.8%–40.0%: 7 areas

All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Dorset — higher than 65% of areas.

Volunteers compared with the state and national average
Dorset20.7%
Rest of Tas. 17.5%
Tasmania 18.0%
Australia 14.1%

Participation

Volunteering for organisations and groups.

About 20.7% of people volunteer here, which is well above the national figure of 14.1%. This is a higher rate than most similar areas, although it has fallen slightly since 2011.

20.7% ▼ -6.0%

Higher than 65% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 22.1%
  • 2016: 25.5%
  • 2021: 20.7%

Share of people aged 15+ who did voluntary work for an organisation or group.

Unpaid care & work

Caring for others and unpaid domestic work.

Unpaid care is common, with 12.8% of people providing care and 24.6% doing over 15 hours of housework, both well above the national figures. However, the 22.9% of people caring for children unpaid is well below the Australian average.

12.8% ▲ +8.7%

Higher than 60% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 11.8%
  • 2016: 11.6%
  • 2021: 12.8%

Share of people aged 15+ who provided unpaid assistance to someone with a disability or due to old age.

22.9% ▼ -14.5%

Lower than 67% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 26.8%
  • 2016: 23.7%
  • 2021: 22.9%

Share of people aged 15+ who provided unpaid child care.

24.6% ▼ -17.2%

Higher than 74% of council (lga) areas.

  • 2011: 29.7%
  • 2016: 27.4%
  • 2021: 24.6%

Share of people aged 15+ who did 15 hours or more of unpaid domestic work in the week before the Census.

Defence service

People who served in the Australian Defence Force.

A much higher proportion of residents have served in the Defence Force compared to most areas. At 3.9%, this is a little above the national figure of 2.8%.

Sources

  • Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).

More for Dorset

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Community Participation in Dorset [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA61810/dorset/topic/community