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 Gladstone Central, accounting for 71.7% (968 people). This share was lower than Gladstone (R) (75.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 952 people, while its share fell by 1 percentage point.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Gladstone Central - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Gladstone Central in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Gladstone (R) and change since 2016.

Volunteer work change

Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.

2016
2021

Total Volunteer

+174

+12.9pp

Total Not A Volunteer

+952

-1.0pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

+212

+15.7pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Gladstone Central. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).

Volunteer work for Gladstone Central. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Volunteer work for Gladstone Central. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Gladstone (R)%Count%Gladstone (R)%Countpp
Total Volunteer17412.9%16.2%00.0%20.3%+174+12.9pp
Total Not A Volunteer96871.7%75.9%1672.7%70.9%+952-1.0pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated21215.7%7.9%00.0%8.8%+212+15.7pp
Total1,350100.0%100.0%22100.0%100.0%+1,3280.0pp