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 Fairyland, accounting for 69.6% (48 people). This share was similar to Western Downs (R) (69.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in not volunteering, which increased by 21 people and 21.4 percentage points.

Section overview

Volunteer work

Fairyland - Persons aged 15+ (Usual residence)

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

Volunteer work snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Fairyland, with comparison markers for Western Downs (R).

Fairyland
Western Downs (R)

Total Volunteer

2021 count

13

% of total

18.8%

Change from 2016

-11.6pp

Total Not A Volunteer

2021 count

48

% of total

69.6%

Change from 2016

+21.4pp

Total Voluntary Work Not Stated

2021 count

10

% of total

14.5%

Change from 2016

-3.4pp

Data table

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

Volunteer work for Fairyland. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
Volunteer work for Fairyland. Volunteer work. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Western Downs (R).
Category20212016Change
Count%Western Downs (R)%Count%Western Downs (R)%Countpp
Total Volunteer1318.8%19.5%1730.4%24.7%-4-11.6pp
Total Not A Volunteer4869.6%69.5%2748.2%62.2%+21+21.4pp
Total Voluntary Work Not Stated1014.5%10.9%1017.9%13.1%0-3.4pp
Total69100.0%100.0%56100.0%100.0%+130.0pp