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 Lake Macquarie (C), accounting for 82.2% (143,882 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (77.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 21,432 people and 6.3 percentage points.
Section overview
Volunteer work
Lake Macquarie (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises volunteer work for Lake Macquarie (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Volunteer work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Lake Macquarie (C), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Total Volunteer
2021 count
23,087
% of total
13.2%
Change from 2016
-4.8pp
23,087
13.2%
-4.8pp
Total Not A Volunteer
2021 count
143,882
% of total
82.2%
Change from 2016
+6.3pp
143,882
82.2%
+6.3pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
2021 count
8,118
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-1.5pp
8,118
4.6%
-1.5pp
Chart view
Volunteer work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Total Volunteer
-5,894
-4.8pp
Total Not A Volunteer
+21,432
+6.3pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
-1,711
-1.5pp
Data table
Volunteer work for Lake Macquarie (C). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| Total Volunteer | 23,087 | 13.2% | 15.5% | 28,981 | 18.0% | 20.8% | -5,894 | -4.8pp |
| Total Not A Volunteer | 143,882 | 82.2% | 77.1% | 122,450 | 75.9% | 69.8% | +21,432 | +6.3pp |
| Total Voluntary Work Not Stated | 8,118 | 4.6% | 7.3% | 9,829 | 6.1% | 9.4% | -1,711 | -1.5pp |
| Total | 175,079 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 161,262 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +13,817 | 0.0pp |