Volunteer data

Key results

• On average Victorian creative and cultural organisations rely on volunteer and pro bono services for 45% of income support
• 17% of Victorians engage in volunteer work in the arts, this is higher than the national average of 15%
• Organisations and projects funded by Creative Victoria are assisted by over 730,000 volunteer hours annually, equivalent to 91,298 full days^*

National results

• The importance of volunteer and pro bono services to the arts and culture sector is clear when a monetary value is calculated. At present, nearly one third of all private income support for organisations is derived through volunteering and pro bono services, worth $180 million^{^}.
• The arts and culture sector include a large number of micro organisations⁺ that depend on volunteer and pro bono services. Creative Partners Australia’s 2018/19 survey found these micros organisations depend on volunteer and pro bono services for three-quarters of their income.
• Outer-metro and non-metro art and culture organisations are also more dependent upon volunteer and pro bono services, making up 75% and 55% of support received respectively, than inner metro art and culture organisations (18%).
• Media and communications, which include publishing, film production, radio and television and libraries, are the most dependent on volunteer and pro bono services (68% of support received).
  • Societies (including historical, poetry and literary societies) and Museums and Galleries are also heavily reliant on volunteers (59% and 34% respectively of all support received).
• In 2016 an average of 15% of Australians did volunteer work to support artists, arts organisations and arts projects.

Victorian results

• On average Victoria relies on volunteer and pro bono services for 45% of income support (more than the national average of nearly one third).
• Victorians are more likely to volunteer for the arts than Australians as a whole. In 2016, 17% of Victorians volunteered for the arts or helped artists or community groups with arts activities compared to the national average of 15%.
• In 2018, Creative Victorian funded organisations and projects were assisted by over 730,000 volunteer hours.

Volunteer hours

Data sources

Information about Volunteering in the Creative and cultural sector comes from multiple sources:

• In 2018 Creative Partnerships Australia released the results of Giving Attitude: Private Sector Support Survey, which quantifies the value of volunteer services to the national and Victorian creative and cultural sector.
• The Australia Council’s The National Arts Participation survey of 2016 includes rates of volunteering in the arts both nationally and in Victoria.
• Data collected from organisations and projects funded by Creative Victoria provides a good indication of the number of volunteer hours provided to the Victorian sector annually.

^{* Based on an 8-hour day for 2017.
^ Private income support is comprised of cash support (through donations, sponsorship, bequests and fundraising), volunteer and pro bono services and in-kind support reported by those organisations surveyed by Creative Partnerships in 2018/19.
+ (turnover <$50,000)}