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 Unincorporated ACT, accounting for 76.9% (285,476 people). This share was similar to Australian Capital Territory (76.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 59,300 people and 6.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Volunteer work
Unincorporated ACT - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)
This table summarises volunteer work for Unincorporated ACT in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Australian Capital Territory and change since 2016.
Volunteer work snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated ACT, with comparison markers for Australian Capital Territory.
Total Volunteer
2021 count
68,383
% of total
18.4%
Change from 2016
-4.9pp
68,383
18.4%
-4.9pp
Total Not A Volunteer
2021 count
285,476
% of total
76.9%
Change from 2016
+6.7pp
285,476
76.9%
+6.7pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
2021 count
17,137
% of total
4.6%
Change from 2016
-2.0pp
17,137
4.6%
-2.0pp
Chart view
Volunteer work change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Total Volunteer
-6,634
-4.9pp
Total Not A Volunteer
+59,300
+6.7pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated
-4,083
-2.0pp
Data table
Volunteer work for Unincorporated ACT. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Australian Capital Territory.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | % | Australian Capital Territory% | Count | pp | |
| Total Volunteer | 68,383 | 18.4% | 18.4% | 75,017 | 23.3% | 23.3% | -6,634 | -4.9pp |
| Total Not A Volunteer | 285,476 | 76.9% | 76.9% | 226,176 | 70.2% | 70.2% | +59,300 | +6.7pp |
| Total Voluntary Work Not Stated | 17,137 | 4.6% | 4.6% | 21,220 | 6.6% | 6.6% | -4,083 | -2.0pp |
| Total | 370,996 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 322,415 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +48,581 | 0.0pp |