2025 State of Volunteering Survey Launched in NSW

2025 State of Volunteering Survey Launched in NSW

Following the release of the landmark report: A Snapshot of Volunteering in Australia, volunteer managers across New South Wales are now being called on to make their voices heard in the 2025 NSW State of Volunteering Survey.

The Snapshot report is based on data from the 2023 State of Volunteering Surveys, collected from every state and territory and is the largest study of volunteering in Australia, with nearly 7000 members of the general public and nearly 4000 volunteer managers sharing their experiences.

The strength and value of the volunteering sector in Australia is demonstrated by the findings of the report which include:

• 14.1 million Australians aged 15 and over (or 64.3% of the population) volunteered in some capacity in 2023.
• Volunteers gave around 3.2 billion hours of their time to their communities.
• Volunteer contributions delivered an estimated $566 billion in financial benefit to the Australian economy—with a return of $5 for every $1 invested in the volunteering sector.

Ongoing research is essential for helping government, peak bodies, and community organisations understand the scale of the volunteering effort, the needs of individuals, and the key issues affecting volunteering. Research also helps shape policies, target resources, and support for volunteers and their managers.

The Minister with Responsibility for Volunteering in NSW the Hon. Jodie Harrison MP said the NSW Government is pleased to continue to fund the development of the NSW State of Volunteering Report.

“Volunteers are the backbone of our communities, contributing billions of hours to our economy. So it is vital that we know how we can continue to support them and recognise their incredible work.

“This new report will build on previous research in New South Wales and explore what has changed since the last report in 2023. I urge volunteer managers to complete the survey to help us better understand the sector, its challenges and how we can help it thrive.”

The CEO of The Centre for Volunteering, Gemma Rygate said, “We are now seeking input from volunteer managers across NSW to help identify current trends, challenges, and opportunities.

“By completing the survey, you play a vital role in shaping the future of volunteering in NSW.”

Have your say today. Click here to take the survey.