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 Walcha (A), accounting for 63.4% (1,589 people). This share was lower than Regional NSW (77.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 221 people and 9.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Walcha (A) - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

This table summarises volunteer work for Walcha (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Walcha (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.

Walcha (A)
Regional NSW

Total Volunteer

2021 count

654

% of total

26.1%

Change from 2016

-6.6pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

1,589

% of total

63.4%

Change from 2016

+9.9pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

267

% of total

10.6%

Change from 2016

-3.3pp

Data table

Volunteer work for Walcha (A). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.

Volunteer work for Walcha (A). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Volunteer work for Walcha (A). Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
Category20212016Change
Count%Regional NSW%Count%Regional NSW%Countpp
Total Volunteer65426.1%15.5%83632.7%20.8%-182-6.6pp
Total Not A Volunteer1,58963.4%77.1%1,36853.5%69.8%+221+9.9pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated26710.6%7.3%35613.9%9.4%-89-3.3pp
Total2,508100.0%100.0%2,556100.0%100.0%-480.0pp