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.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, not volunteering was the most common response among residents aged 15 and over in Central Desert (R), accounting for 81.7% (2,145 people). This share was higher than Regional NT (75.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 54 people and 1.1 percentage points.
Section overview
Volunteer work
Central Desert (R) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises volunteer work for Central Desert (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NT and change since 2016.
Chart view
Volunteer work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Central Desert (R), with comparison markers for Regional NT.
Total Volunteer
2021 count
165
% of total
6.3%
Change from 2016
-2.1pp
165
6.3%
-2.1pp
Total Not A Volunteer
2021 count
2,145
% of total
81.7%
Change from 2016
+1.1pp
2,145
81.7%
+1.1pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
2021 count
319
% of total
12.1%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
319
12.1%
+1.0pp
Volunteer work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Total Volunteer
-53
-2.1pp
Total Not A Volunteer
+54
+1.1pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
+30
+1.0pp
Data table
Volunteer work for Central Desert (R). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NT.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | % | Regional NT% | Count | pp | |
| Total Volunteer | 165 | 6.3% | 11.5% | 218 | 8.4% | 16.8% | -53 | -2.1pp |
| Total Not A Volunteer | 2,145 | 81.7% | 75.6% | 2,091 | 80.6% | 65.9% | +54 | +1.1pp |
| Total Voluntary Work Not Stated | 319 | 12.1% | 12.9% | 289 | 11.1% | 17.4% | +30 | +1.0pp |
| Total | 2,627 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,593 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +34 | 0.0pp |