Australians are volunteering less but giving more money, as the government examines recommendations on ways to boost the nation’s altruism.
A draft report on philanthropy from the Productivity Commission found Australians donated more than $13 billion (US$8.6 billion) to charities in 2021, a 26 percent increase since 2017.
But the number of Australians volunteering with organisations has declined during the past decade, with six million participating in 2022.
Productivity Commission deputy chair Alex Robson said Australia was a “generous nation” but there were more incentives to donate than volunteer.
The decline in formal volunteering has directly coincided with a rise in informal volunteering, where people support non-family members outside their household.
Though Australians’ financial donations are increasing, there are still significant barriers standing in the way of the government’s goal of doubling philanthropy within the decade.
Related Stories
A significant amount of Australian altruism comes from tax-deductible donations, but Mr. Robson says many charities cannot receive these kinds of funds because of complexities and anomalies in the system.
“If you’re a charity and you’re…
Read the full article here