The number of volunteers in Wyndham is lower than the state average, data released by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network shows.
In a population health snapshot for Wyndham, the rate of adult volunteering sits at 13.1 per cent – 6.2 per cent lower than the state’s median.
Network chief executive Chris Carter said the rate of volunteering in a community was considered a social determinant of health, as it directly relates to social cohesion and community connectedness, each of which can have a positive or negative influence on health outcomes.
Discussing Wyndham’s lower rate of volunteers, Professor Carter said demographics played a part in the statistics.
“Wyndham has fewer people aged 45-65 than the
Victorian average, which is, statistically, the prime age for volunteering,” he said.
“Wyndham is also a growth area, with substantially more young children and adults aged 25-45, so there may be a lot of busy young families who can’t find the time to volunteer.”
Wyndham council chief executive Kelly Grigsby agreed with Professor Carter but said there were still other factors that needed to be considered when explaining why the figures were lower than the rest of the state.
“Many people don’t self-identify as volunteers and may not consider themselves in a formal volunteering role, leading to under-reporting,” she said.
“Language and cultural barriers may also prevent people from identifying as a volunteer.” Ms Grigsby said there was a range of programs to encourage and enhance volunteering across the region.
The health snapshot also found the rate of obesity in Wyndham for both men (17.4 per cent) and women (20.4 per cent) was higher than the state average (17.4 per cent and 17.2 per cent respectively).
The rate of unemployment in Wyndham was 2.7 per cent higher than the rest of the state and the number of households receiving Centrelink rent assistance payments was 4.4 per cent higher.
