Active membership to clubs or associations
40% of all veterans
were active members of clubs or associations. This was higher than people who had never served in the ADF (29%).
Veterans in Inner regional areas
were less likely to be active members of clubs or associations (32%) than those living in Major cities (46%).
Over 1 in 3 veterans with disability
(38%) were active members of clubs or associations. This was similar to veterans without disability (42%).
How did we measure whether a veteran was an active member of a club or association?
As part of the HILDA self-completion questionnaire, respondents are asked whether they are currently an active member of a sporting, hobby or community-based club or association. Those who responded “yes” were considered an active member of club or association, whilst those who responded “no” were not.
On this page, only the proportions of people who were active members of a club or association (that is, who answered “yes” to this survey question) are reported.
Comparing to people who have never served in the ADF
Overall, analysis of self-reported data from Wave 21 of HILDA indicated that people who had ever served in the ADF (herein referred to as ‘veterans’) were more likely to be active members of a club or association than people who had never served in the ADF (40% compared with 29%, respectively).
Many subgroups of veterans were active members of clubs or associations at rates higher than people who had never served in the ADF from the same subgroups. This includes veterans who were:
- male (40%, compared with 31% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- aged 65 years and older (46%, compared with 38% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- not in the labour force (that is, neither working nor looking for work) (42%, compared with 29% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- not in financial stress (42%, compared with 30% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- living in Major cities (46%, compared with 29% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- living in New South Wales (44%, compared with 27% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- in good general health (42%, compared with 31% of people who had never served in the ADF), and in good mental health (40%, compared with 32% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- in poor mental health (#36%, compared with 20% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- with disability (38%, compared with 27% of people who had never served in the ADF), and without disability (42%, compared with 31% of people who had never served in the ADF)
- living in couple households with children (43%, compared with 29% of people who had never served in the ADF) and without children (44%, compared with 35% of people who had never served in the ADF).
However, some of these findings may be explained by most veterans in the Wave 21 HILDA data being aged 65 years and older, as this age group were more likely to be active members of clubs and associations than younger respondents (regardless of ADF service status). For more information on the age distribution of veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA, see A profile of veterans in Wave 21 of HILDA.
Comparing between subgroups of veterans
Some subgroups of veterans were less likely to be active members of clubs or associations than others. This includes veterans who:
- had served in the regular service (33%, compared with 49% of veterans who had served in the Reserves)19 (Figure 9)
- were aged 18 to 44 (32%, compared with 46% of veterans aged 65 years and older)20
- were living in Inner regional areas (32%, compared with 46% of veterans who lived in Major cities). This pattern not observed among people who had never served in the ADF.
- were in poor general health (30%, compared with 42% of veterans in good general health)21 (Figure 10).
Figure 9: Rates of active membership to clubs or associations, by Defence workforce type, 2021-22
The bar chart shows rates of active membership to clubs or associations by defence worktype. Findings show that Reservists were more likely to be active members of clubs or associations than veterans who served in the regular service.
Figure 10: Rates of active membership to clubs or associations, by individual characteristics and ADF service status, 2021–22
The bar chart shows rates of active membership to clubs or associations by individual characteristics. Findings show that many subgroups of veterans were more likely to be active members of clubs or associations than the same subgroups in the broader Australian population.
Why did we measure active membership to clubs and associations among veterans?
Being an active member in a club or association involves meeting with others who have a common purpose or interest and taking part in shared activities. In 2020, 46% of Australians were involved in social groups, 21% were involved in community groups, and 7% were involved in civic and political groups (ABS 2021).
Belonging to a club or association provides opportunities for people to develop friendships, interact with others from diverse backgrounds, and develop a strong sense of belonging and purpose. Finding an enjoyable pastime through sport, hobbies or community groups can reduce the risk of chronic physical and mental health conditions and stress, whilst enhancing self-confidence, self-esteem, sense of personal empowerment and social relationships (Department of Health and Aged Care 2022; Head to Health n.d; AIFS 2016).
Transition out of the ADF often requires veterans to re-establish their sense of purpose, social connections, and sense of belonging. Veterans will often engage with ex-service organisations (ESOs) to assist with their transition to civilian life in areas such as advocacy, visitation services, aid with employment and education, and social activities (DVA 2022). More than one quarter (28%) of ADF personnel who recently left the ADF have joined one or more ex-service organisations (Van Hooff et al. 2018) and 2 in 3 (66%) DVA card holders belong to similar organisations (DVA 2008). As such, the increased rates of active membership to clubs and associations observed among veterans in this report may be explained by the cohort’s membership to ESOs.
# proportion has a high Margin of Error and should be used with caution.
19. This comparison excludes persons who had served in both the regular and reserve service.
20. A similar result was found among people who had never served in the ADF (28% of those aged 18 to 44 compared with 38% of those aged 65 years and older).
21. A similar result was found among people who had never served in the ADF (21% of those in poor general health compared with 31% of those is good general health).
ABS (2021) General Social Survey: Summary Results, Australia, ABS, Australian Government, accessed 31 May 2023.
AIFS (2016) Community engagement, AIFS, Australian Government, accessed 31 May 2023.
Department of Health and Aged Care (2022) Community sport, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, accessed 31 May 2023.
DVA (2008) Your lives, your needs: Findings from the 2006 Survey of Entitled Veterans, War Widow(er)s, RCA Clients and their Carers, DVA, Australian Government, accessed 21 July 2023.
DVA (2022) What is an ex-service organisation?, DVA, Australian Government, accessed 21 July 2023.
Head to Health (n.d) Purposeful activity, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, accessed 31 May 2023.
Van Hooff M, Lawrence-Wood E, Hodson S, Sadler N, Benassi H, Hansen C and Iannos M (2018) Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study: mental health prevalence, Defence and DVA, Australian Government, accessed 21 July 2023.