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 Unincorporated SA, accounting for 60.2% (1,554 people). This share was lower than Regional SA (70.2%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which decreased by 195 people, while its share rose by 2.5 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Unincorporated SA - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Unincorporated SA in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional SA and change since 2016.

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Unincorporated SA, with comparison markers for Regional SA.

Unincorporated SA
Regional SA

Total Volunteer

2021 count

561

% of total

21.7%

Change from 2016

-0.8pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

1,554

% of total

60.2%

Change from 2016

+2.5pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

461

% of total

17.9%

Change from 2016

-2.0pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Unincorporated SA. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.

Volunteer work for Unincorporated SA. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Volunteer work for Unincorporated SA. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional SA.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional SA%Count%Regional SA%Countpp
Total Volunteer56121.7%22.0%68222.5%27.8%-121-0.8pp
Total Not A Volunteer1,55460.2%70.2%1,74957.7%63.0%-195+2.5pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated46117.9%7.8%60419.9%9.3%-143-2.0pp
Total2,580100.0%100.0%3,032100.0%100.0%-4520.0pp