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 Upper Ferntree Gully (part), accounting for 80.7% (2,286 people). This share was lower than Knox (C) (83.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which decreased by 3,698 people, while its share rose by 8.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Volunteer work
Upper Ferntree Gully (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises volunteer work for Upper Ferntree Gully (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Knox (C) and change since 2016.
Volunteer work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Upper Ferntree Gully (part), with comparison markers for Knox (C).
Total Volunteer
2021 count
431
% of total
15.2%
Change from 2016
-8.8pp
431
15.2%
-8.8pp
Total Not A Volunteer
2021 count
2,286
% of total
80.7%
Change from 2016
+8.2pp
2,286
80.7%
+8.2pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
2021 count
109
% of total
3.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
109
3.8%
+0.2pp
Chart view
Volunteer work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Total Volunteer
-1,548
-8.8pp
Total Not A Volunteer
-3,698
+8.2pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
-187
+0.2pp
Data table
Volunteer work for Upper Ferntree Gully (part). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Knox (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | % | Knox (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Total Volunteer | 431 | 15.2% | 13.1% | 1,979 | 24.0% | 19.0% | -1,548 | -8.8pp |
| Total Not A Volunteer | 2,286 | 80.7% | 83.1% | 5,984 | 72.5% | 75.8% | -3,698 | +8.2pp |
| Total Voluntary Work Not Stated | 109 | 3.8% | 3.7% | 296 | 3.6% | 5.2% | -187 | +0.2pp |
| Total | 2,833 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,256 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -5,423 | 0.0pp |