Why don’t Aussies volunteer?

The reasons why Aussies volunteer, and the benefits they bring to society, are well known. Now—in a world first—Flinders University, together with a team of Australian and international researchers, will try to find out why people don’tvolunteer. Funded by an ARC Linkage grant, the project aims to identify innovative ways to increase social participation by understanding the barriers that deter people from lending a hand. One of the study’s chief investigators, Flinders University History Professor, Melanie Oppenheimer, said the project will involve surveys, interviews and focus groups with hundreds of non-volunteers and volunteer organisations Australia-wide, as well as an analysis of the broader function of society.

Media issued by Flinders University