NSW the state of volunteering

Last published on 09 Aug 2021

More than 4.8 million NSW residents volunteered in 2020, contributing a combined $127 billion in social and economic benefits, a first-of-its-kind report has found.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the NSW Centre for Volunteering’s State of Volunteering report provides an in-depth look into the value of community service.

“Volunteers are everyday people, putting their community above themselves,” Mr Henskens said.

“During what has been an incredibly difficult period in our state’s history, the valuable work volunteers do has never been more important.

“The pandemic may have tested the character and resolve of our great state but our volunteers have responded in a variety of ways to make our communities stronger, safer and better places to live.”

More than 1,100 volunteers and more than 1,000 organisations were surveyed as part of the report, which was produced by the Institute of Project Management.

Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said the report highlights the positive impact volunteering has on all aspects of community life.

“The volunteer workforce is as big as the private sector and despite the impact of the pandemic it continued to grow in 2020,” Ms Rygate said.

“The report shows us that the way people volunteer is changing and that people are looking for flexible ways to volunteer, including the use of digital and online tools.

“This research is a powerful reminder of how critical the volunteer workforce is and provides the evidence we need to support volunteering well into the future.”

To read a full copy of the report, visit the Centre for Volunteering website.

Download Media Release: NSW the state of volunteering (PDF , 155.1 KB)