Recognising community volunteers

IN the wake of International Volunteer Day, South Australians are encouraged to recognise the everyday heroes who strengthen our communities, with nominations now open for the 2026 South Australian Volunteer Awards.

Volunteers lift our communities – from crisis response to neighbourhood support – and these awards honour their generosity and talent, which often goes unrecognised.

People can nominate themselves or another group or individual they know in the following categories:

• The Joy Noble Medal – South Australia’s highest distinction for an individual volunteer.
• The Andamooka’ Community Project Award – Recognising a community or group volunteer project of significant community benefit.
• The Young Volunteer Award – Honouring an impressive young volunteer aged 12 to 25.
• The Excellence in Volunteer Management Award – Honouring a volunteer manager for their outstanding contribution to the profession.
• The Premier’s Award for Corporate Social Responsibility – Recognising the community contribution of a South Australian for-profit business.

Winners of this year’s awards included a suicide prevention advocate, a champion of reconciliation and social justice, an SA-based global education platform for isolated students, and volunteers from the much-loved Chihuly in the Botanic Gardens.

The 2026 South Australian Volunteer Awards will be held at Government House for the first time, coinciding with National Volunteer Week, which runs from May 18 to 24.

South Australia has more than 950,000 volunteers who contribute an estimated 223 million hours each year, equivalent to $36 billion in social and economic value.

Help to recognise the local heroes in our community by nominating an exceptional volunteer or group for the South Australian Volunteer Awards. Self-nominations are also welcome.

Nominations close Monday, January 26, at 5pm.The awards are presented by Volunteering SA&NT and supported by the South Australian Department of Human Services.

For more information, visit: https://vsant.org.au/savolunteerawards/