Facts & figures

How many Queenslanders volunteer?

According to the ABS Census 2016, there are currently 714,138 volunteers in Queensland or 18.8% of the population.

Barcoo (39.7%) has the largest percentage of people volunteering, followed by Diamantina (36.8%), Quilpie (36.1%), Barcaldine (36.0%), Blackall-Tambo (33.4%), Longreach (33.2%), Winton (31.5%), and Balonne (30.8%).

Doomadgee (4.9%), Aurakun (7.9%), Lockhart River (8.7%), Logan (14.6%), and Gold Coast (14.9%) have the lowest participation rates in volunteering.

Our capital city, Brisbane has a 20.45% participation rate in volunteering.

Volunteering in rural and regional communities is higher than that in metropolitan areas.

Previously there were approx. 980,000 volunteers in Queensland in 2014, 1.2 million volunteers in 2010 and 1.1 million volunteers in 2006.

Volunteering by age

Gender

Culturally and linguistically diverse volunteers

The rate of volunteering amongst people born overseas is high, around 28%.

For those speaking a language other than English at home the rate is around 25%. Generally lower than those born in Australia (39%) or those who speak English at home (39%).

This difference shows the barriers to mainstream volunteering experienced by people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Many of these volunteers tend to participate informally within their own cultural groups and their volunteering contributions are often informal and not recorded.

Areas in which volunteers participate

Economic value of volunteering

The current wage rate used to work out the value of volunteering is $44.30.

To work out the cost of volunteer replacement, please see our calculator.

Volunteers annually provide in excess of 133.4 million hours work.
Volunteering was annually worth $11.6 billion to the Queensland economy in 2014 (conservative).
Formal volunteering is defined as unpaid help in the form of time, service and/ or skills willingly given by an individual through recognised organisations or groups. In 2014, formal voluntary work in Queensland was annually worth $4.6 billion.
Informal volunteering is defined as the un-organised, unpaid help and care that occurs within the personal networks of family, friends, neighbours, acquaintances and local community. It is not mediated through an organisation and volunteers often do not have protections, such as volunteer insurance, policies, procedures, adequate training and management. In 2014, informal volunteering was annually worth an estimated $6.9 billion.

Return on investment

Health and well-being benefits of volunteering

Volunteers are happier, healthier and sleep better than those who don’t volunteer.

95% of volunteers say that volunteering is related to feelings of well-being.
Volunteering results in a ‘helper’s high’, a powerful physical and emotional feeling experienced when directly helping others.
Sustained volunteering is associated with better mental health.
A strong correlation exists between the well-being, happiness, health, and longevity of people who are emotionally kind and compassionate in their charitable helping activities.
The experience of helping others provides meaning, a sense of self-worth, a social role and health enhancement.
Volunteering strengthens social inclusion, connection, identity, sense of purpose and lessens loneliness.

Why people volunteer

To make a difference
To give back
To contribute to achieving the mission of an organisation
To learn new skills – for self-satisfaction, work experience, and/ or as a pathway to employment
To share their skills
To meet friends and enjoy new social and cultural experiences
To make professional networks
To have fun
To act on their values, passions, and interests
For personal development – build confidence
To enjoy better physical and mental health and well-being

What encourages people to step into volunteering

Someone asked them
Following in the footsteps of family and/ or friends who already volunteer and have had good experiences
Personal motivation
Are passionate about a cause
See advertising of opportunities that appeal to them
See an immediate, urgent need and step forward
Want a new experience and/ or challenge in a supportive environment
To gain experience and/ or networks for future employment

Volunteer efforts help

Enhance and extend the work of a cause/ organisation
Improve the quality of life for clients and recipients of a service
Spread the word and increase awareness of important issues and the organisation at which they volunteer
Bring new insights, ideas and introduce new ways of working and thinking
Get people involved in meaningful work
Benefit the community at large
Change the world!

Why people leave volunteering

They don’t feel valued or welcome
They don’t feel their time and/ or skills are being utilised effectively
‘Passage of life’ changes – these volunteers often return
Unmet expectations
Poor volunteer management and/ or poorly run organisation
Real or perceived barriers to participation – cliques
Lack of inclusion and acceptance of diversity
Financial constraints
Time constraints
Transport constraints
Regulatory, training and/ or bureaucratical concerns – red tape, etc

Other interesting facts about volunteering

82% of volunteers were delighted, pleased or mostly satisfied with their lives, compared to 75% of non-volunteers.
82% of volunteers were much more likely to have attended a community event in the last six months, compared to 55% of non-volunteers.
Volunteers were almost three times more likely to have provided a service or contributed to a community activity in their local area than non-volunteers (44% compared to 15%).

Sources

Menu

Find a role

Our volunteer projects

A snapshot of key information and statistics about volunteering in Queensland

Typography