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 Perth (C), accounting for 73.3% (27,263 people). This share was lower than Greater Perth (79.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 2,777 people and 5.1 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

South Perth (C) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for South Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.

South Perth (C)
Greater Perth

Total Volunteer

2021 count

7,829

% of total

21.1%

Change from 2016

-2.6pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

27,263

% of total

73.3%

Change from 2016

+5.1pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

2,090

% of total

5.6%

Change from 2016

-2.5pp

Data table

Volunteer work for South Perth (C). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.

Volunteer work for South Perth (C). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Volunteer work for South Perth (C). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Perth%Count%Greater Perth%Countpp
Total Volunteer7,82921.1%15.1%8,49723.7%17.9%-668-2.6pp
Total Not A Volunteer27,26373.3%79.1%24,48668.2%74.2%+2,777+5.1pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated2,0905.6%5.8%2,9028.1%7.9%-812-2.5pp
Total37,180100.0%100.0%35,887100.0%100.0%+1,2930.0pp