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 Karara, accounting for 62.6% (72 people). This share was lower than Southern Downs (R) (72.3%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 15 people and 7.8 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Karara - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Karara in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Southern Downs (R) and change since 2016.

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Karara, with comparison markers for Southern Downs (R).

Karara
Southern Downs (R)

Total Volunteer

2021 count

22

% of total

19.1%

Change from 2016

-15.5pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

72

% of total

62.6%

Change from 2016

+7.8pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

24

% of total

20.9%

Change from 2016

+7.4pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Karara. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).

Volunteer work for Karara. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Volunteer work for Karara. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Southern Downs (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Southern Downs (R)%Count%Southern Downs (R)%Countpp
Total Volunteer2219.1%19.3%3634.6%24.7%-14-15.5pp
Total Not A Volunteer7262.6%72.3%5754.8%66.8%+15+7.8pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated2420.9%8.4%1413.5%8.5%+10+7.4pp
Total115100.0%100.0%104100.0%100.0%+110.0pp