International Volunteer Day & Garden Party

International Volunteer Day & Garden Party Image

About International Volunteer Day

Volunteering WA proudly supports International Volunteer Day to raise awareness of the important role volunteers play in responding to challenges facing the world. With over 1.5 million volunteers in Western Australia, International Volunteer Day is a day for mass celebration.

International Volunteer Day commonly known as IVD is celebrated on 5 December every year. It started as an international observance mandated by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985. It’s a day where volunteers are acknowledged and the spirit of volunteerism is promoted at the local, national and international levels.

The United Nations Volunteers programme joins IVD celebrations with UN Volunteers and all volunteers around the world – amplifying the importance of people-led solutions to our common challenges.

International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development

This year, 5 December marks an important moment. It is the official launch of International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY2026), a global initiative that highlights the crucial role of volunteering in achieving sustainable development.

  • Leading Youth Forward volunteer mentors empower teens in years 7 to 10 through one-on-one mentoring and engaging group activities.
  • A man giving a haircut to another man
    One of the volunteer hairdressers behind Short Back and Sidewalks, an organisation providing free haircuts to people experiencing homelessness.
  • St John WA volunteers can be found in all corners of WA, including this team from Tom Price.

International Volunteer Day Garden Party

Each year, on the Thursday closest to International Volunteer Day, Volunteering WA hosts the annual garden party in the stunning gardens of Government House.

The International Volunteer Day Garden Party is a sector-favourite on the Volunteering WA calendar. It’s an event that allows volunteers to connect with each other, and different organisations, while celebrating the power of volunteering.

The Garden Party features speeches, live entertainment, canapes and lawn games. We invite organisations to bring their volunteers to the event as a way of thanking them for their efforts.

Ticket sales open in September-October each year.

A group of individuals seated at a table