Voluntary work for an organisation or group (VOLWP)

This image shows a question from the 2026 Census online form. This question asks: In the last twelve months did Person 1 spend any time doing unpaid voluntary work for an organisation or group?  

Underneath the question text, the instructional text states: Include unpaid voluntary work for sporting teams, youth groups, charities, schools, or religious organisations. Exclude work in a family business or paid employment. Exclude work to qualify for a government benefit, to obtain an educational qualification or due to a community/court order.  

Underneath the instructional text, is a clickable More Information header. Once clicked, the More Information text is split into sections. 

The first section states: Only include help willingly given, in the form of time, service or skills, to a club, organisation or association.  

The next section is a list: Unpaid voluntary work can include: assisting at organised events and with sports organisations; helping with organised school events and activities; assisting in churches, hospitals, aged care homes and charities; school students participating in student government within their schools; other kinds of volunteer work (for example, emergency services, serving on a committee for a club or community group).  

The response options are: No, did not do unpaid voluntary work; Yes, did unpaid voluntary work.