Employment

Volunteer work

About this topic

Volunteer work records whether people aged 15 years and over spent time doing voluntary work through an organisation or group in the previous 12 months. It is a measure of formal volunteering, not all informal help between neighbours, family, or friends.

This topic can indicate community participation, social connectedness, and the capacity of local organisations to attract volunteers. The 2021 Census should be interpreted carefully because COVID-19 restrictions reduced volunteering activity in many places.

Interpretation notes

  • The Census counts voluntary work through an organisation or group, so it excludes informal help given outside formal organisations.
  • The question refers to the previous 12 months for people aged 15 years and over.
  • 2021 volunteering levels were affected by COVID-19 restrictions in many places, so change over time needs care.

Key insight

In 2021, not volunteering was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Canada Bay (A), accounting for 82.9% (62,224 people). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (82.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 5,811 people and 6.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Canada Bay (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Canada Bay (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Canada Bay (A), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Canada Bay (A)
Greater Sydney

Total Volunteer

2021 count

9,213

% of total

12.3%

Change from 2016

-4.4pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

62,224

% of total

82.9%

Change from 2016

+6.4pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

3,644

% of total

4.9%

Change from 2016

-1.9pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Canada Bay (A). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Volunteer work for Canada Bay (A). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Volunteer work for Canada Bay (A). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
Total Volunteer9,21312.3%11.6%12,31916.7%16.7%-3,106-4.4pp
Total Not A Volunteer62,22482.9%82.5%56,41376.5%76.0%+5,811+6.4pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated3,6444.9%5.9%4,9986.8%7.3%-1,354-1.9pp
Total75,074100.0%100.0%73,728100.0%100.0%+1,3460.0pp