Young people are already leading through volunteering
It’s National Youth Volunteer Week, a time to recognise and celebrate the young people across Australia who are leading change through volunteering.
Too often, young people are spoken about in deficit terms – as disengaged, distracted, or disconnected. But the reality tells a very different story.
Across communities nationwide, young people are showing up, stepping in, and contributing in meaningful and measurable ways.
To celebrate National Youth Volunteer Week and highlight young people’s volunteering participation, we have put together a factsheet that provides key insights about contemporary volunteering among young people.
The latest ABS data tells a different story
The latest data confirms what many in the volunteering ecosystem already know: young people are not on the sidelines of civic life. They are actively shaping it.
562,000 young volunteers
In 2025, 562,000 young people aged 15 to 24 years volunteered formally through organisations across Australia.
This rate of participation is robust and is no longer the lowest across all age groups, remaining comparable to 2020 levels.
784,000 young people volunteered informally
22.9% of young people aged 15-24 years volunteered informally in 2025, or 784,000 youths.
40.3 million hours contributed
Young volunteers contributed 40.3 million hours of volunteering in 2025.
Their commitment runs deep, with 1 in 5 young people (19.6%) donating 100 hours or more of their time.
This is not passive involvement. It is sustained, values driven action.
More than participation
Young people’s volunteering is often cause based, reflecting a strong sense of civic responsibility and a desire to respond to social issues.
Whether addressing inequality, supporting local communities or contributing to long term social change, young volunteers are actively helping to shape the future they want to live in.
Your Year to Lead
This year’s National Youth Volunteer Week theme, Your Year to Lead, reflects the leadership young people are already demonstrating through connection, compassion and community action.
National Youth Volunteer Week is an opportunity to move beyond assumptions and recognise what is already happening.
Young people are participating.
They care deeply.
They are making a difference.
Get involved
Learn more from the Fact sheet: Contemporary insights about young volunteers
Access National Youth Volunteer Week resources, including guides, research and toolkits
Know a young volunteer making a difference? Help celebrate youth volunteering across Australia. Share your volunteering story now!
Join the conversation with young people leading through volunteering by registering for the National Youth Volunteer Week Webinar – Register to attend the webinar
