Media Release
Embargoed until 18/07/24
Indifference - a threat to community organisations!
A new report has found strong support for Australian charities and community organisations, including the need for increased funding and support, but there is an emerging minority of Australians who are less engaged and less supportive of charities and not-for-profits.
The Community Compass report – released today – is based on research from 89 Degrees East for Our Community and CCA. It involved over 3000 participants and segmented the Australian community into six categories based on attitudes to community organisations and the level of engagement in volunteering, giving and supporting the activities of charities and community groups.
While the vast majority of Australians believe we should be doing more to support our charities and community organisations, there is a cohort of disengaged and disinterested people who lead researcher Dr Rebecca Huntley described as “a red flag for the future of the sector”.
The “Indifferent Uninvolved” represented 20% of the population. Three quarters of this group rejected the idea that people who were better off should help the less fortunate, equity and fairness were not highly valued, they were less likely to donate or engage with charities and community groups, tended to be younger, located in cities, more likely to use social media platforms and less likely to use traditional media.
David Crosbie, CEO of the CCA said, “this is a very positive report finding that most Australians believe we all do better when charities and community groups do better. But like the researchers, I am concerned about the decline of fundamental values in our community, the growing sense of indifference, and the implications this may have for Australia.
Charities employ over 1.4 million Australians and turn over more than $200 billion. If the broader community becomes less engaged, donates less and no longer supports values like equality of opportunity, it could further deplete the capacity of a sector already struggling with rising costs, increasing demand and limited income.”
The researchers identified five other categories based on attitudes and engagement with charities and community groups: Enthusiastic Engaged (20%), Positive Preoccupied (16%), Isolated Believers (16%), Active Traditionalists (17%), and Begrudging Bygones (10%).
Mr Crosbie suggested, “charities and community groups should look carefully at this report’s findings. It may mean that as a sector we need to place more emphasis on spelling out the way we contribute to the economy, productivity and the wellbeing of Australians, rather than promoting values like fairness and equality that may not resonate with everyone in our communities.”
Media Contacts: Deborah Smith 0418 244 883 deborahs@communitycouncil.com.au
David Crosbie 0419 624 420 davidc@communitycouncil.com.au
