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 Shark Bay (S), accounting for 63.5% (546 people). This share was lower than Regional WA (69.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 100 people and 6.2 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Shark Bay (S) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Shark Bay (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Shark Bay (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.

Shark Bay (S)
Regional WA

Total Volunteer

2021 count

175

% of total

20.3%

Change from 2016

-10.2pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

546

% of total

63.5%

Change from 2016

+6.2pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

143

% of total

16.6%

Change from 2016

+3.7pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Shark Bay (S). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.

Volunteer work for Shark Bay (S). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Volunteer work for Shark Bay (S). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional WA%Count%Regional WA%Countpp
Total Volunteer17520.3%19.3%23730.5%23.3%-62-10.2pp
Total Not A Volunteer54663.5%69.2%44657.3%64.5%+100+6.2pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated14316.6%11.5%10012.9%12.2%+43+3.7pp
Total860100.0%100.0%778100.0%100.0%+820.0pp