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 Darlington (SA) (part), accounting for 77.2% (835 people). This share was lower than Onkaparinga (C) (80.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which decreased by 3,032 people and 0.7 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Darlington (SA) (part) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Darlington (SA) (part) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Onkaparinga (C) and change since 2016.

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Darlington (SA) (part), with comparison markers for Onkaparinga (C).

Darlington (SA) (part)
Onkaparinga (C)

Total Volunteer

2021 count

187

% of total

17.3%

Change from 2016

+6.9pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

835

% of total

77.2%

Change from 2016

-0.7pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

60

% of total

5.5%

Change from 2016

-6.1pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Darlington (SA) (part). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).

Volunteer work for Darlington (SA) (part). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
Volunteer work for Darlington (SA) (part). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Onkaparinga (C).
Category20212016Change
Count%Onkaparinga (C)%Count%Onkaparinga (C)%Countpp
Total Volunteer18717.3%15.0%51710.4%19.3%-330+6.9pp
Total Not A Volunteer83577.2%80.5%3,86777.9%74.5%-3,032-0.7pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated605.5%4.5%57811.6%6.3%-518-6.1pp
Total1,082100.0%100.0%4,964100.0%100.0%-3,8820.0pp