Volunteering Statistics

The most comprehensive research on philanthropy in Australia has found that Australians and businesses are giving and volunteering more than ever before, contributing more than $11 billion in 2004. The Giving Australia: Research on Philanthropy in Australia report shows some of the following key findings:

General Info

41% of adult Australian population volunteers, donating 836 million hours, an average of 132 hours each per year.
The number of hours donated by volunteers has risen 16 per cent since the last ABS Survey in 2000.
A higher percentage of adult Australians volunteer than Americans or Canadians.
8% of adult Australians contribute 70% of all hours volunteered.

By Gender

Women are more likely than men to volunteer and on average volunteer more hours over a year. As a result they contributed 60% of hours dedicated to volunteering.
46% of women living in Australia volunteer compared to 36% of men.

By Age

People aged 35–44 volunteer more than any other age group, with people aged 45–54 the second highest group.
People aged 55–64 dedicate more hours for volunteer work.
Younger and older volunteers contributed with the largest number of mean hours for volunteering.

By Education Level

The volunteer rate increases with the level of education attained. However, the average hours given decrease with increasing educational attainment. In this sense, Bachelor, post graduate and certificate or diploma holders are most likely to volunteer but give less hours than School level volunteers.
School level volunteers donate significantly more hours than other groups representing 56% of total hours volunteered. The second group composed of Bachelor, post graduate and certificate or diploma holders contributed 23% of total hours.

By Employment Status

Full time and Part time employees contribute with more than 50% of total hours of volunteer work.
Almost 50% of Part Time paid employees volunteer.
The group composed by unemployed are far less likely to volunteer than any other group.

By occupation

Managers, professionals and other white-collar workers are most likely to volunteer. These groups represent 77% of the total hours of volunteer work.

By household type

Single parents volunteer more frequently, and for more hours on average (129 mean hours) than people from two-parent families (122 mean hours volunteered).

By location

South Australians are most likely to volunteer. 52% of its population has volunteered.
44% of people living in NSW have volunteered.
The lowest volunteer rate occurred in Sydney, only 37% of its population has volunteered.
40% of people living in Melbourne have volunteered.

By place of birth

Australia is comprised of 42% of Australian-born volunteers and 33% of volunteers from non-English-speaking countries.

Volunteer involvement

79% of volunteers support one field or cause.
16% of volunteers support two fields and 4% of them support three fields.
60% of total donations come from people that have volunteered.
The community or welfare services received voluntary assistance from over 10% of the adult population, equalling almost one-third of the total hours volunteered.
Educational organisations are supported by 8% of the adult population and equal 12% of the total hours volunteered.
Sporting clubs are supported by 7% of adult population and equal almost 7% of the total hours volunteered.
The environmental, animal welfare and health (including medical research) fields have grown the most in terms of volunteer hours since 2000.
Arts or cultural associations and interest groups have had less hours volunteered for them since 2000.

Source

Giving Australia: Research on Philanthropy in Australia (2005) was commissioned by the former Department of Family and Community Services, on behalf of the Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership.

More volunteering statistics

For more volunteering statistics read the Australian Bureau of Statistic's Voluntary Work Survey Report.

Download the full ABS Voluntary Work Report (311 KB)