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 South Gladstone, accounting for 74.6% (2,129 people). This share was lower than Gladstone (R) (75.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 2,039 people and 10.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

South Gladstone - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Gladstone, with comparison markers for Gladstone (R).

South Gladstone
Gladstone (R)

Total Volunteer

2021 count

435

% of total

15.2%

Change from 2016

-11.0pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

2,129

% of total

74.6%

Change from 2016

+10.8pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

290

% of total

10.2%

Change from 2016

+1.0pp

Data table

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

Volunteer work for South Gladstone. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Volunteer work for South Gladstone. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Gladstone (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Gladstone (R)%Count%Gladstone (R)%Countpp
Total Volunteer43515.2%16.2%3726.2%20.3%+398-11.0pp
Total Not A Volunteer2,12974.6%75.9%9063.8%70.9%+2,039+10.8pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated29010.2%7.9%139.2%8.8%+277+1.0pp
Total2,853100.0%100.0%141100.0%100.0%+2,7120.0pp