National Volunteer Week 2025: Volunteers are the backbone of communities

The WA Volunteer of the Year Awards are a favourite on the volunteering calendar. Hosted by Volunteering WA on Thursday 15 May, the event was attended by over 300 people including dignitaries such as His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia; and Hon Hannah Beazley MLA, Minister for Volunteering.

Congratulations to the 2025 Award Winners:

WA Excellence in Volunteer Management Award, presented by Aon
May Bowden, St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies WA)

WA Inclusive Volunteering Award, presented by the Minderoo Foundation
WA All Abilities Football Association

WA Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering, presented by Advocare
Colin Longworth, Living Proud

WA Young Volunteer of the Year, presented by Stan Perron Charitable Foundation
Bree Del Borrello, St John WA

Corporate Volunteering Impact Award, presented by Neonlogic
Horizon Power

Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year, supported by Lotterywest
Care For Hedland Environmental Association

RAC WA Volunteer of the Year, presented by RAC
Brian Gallop ASM OStJ, St John WA

Read more about each of the 2025 WA Volunteer of the Year Award winners.

Volunteering WA, with generous support from Lotterywest, offered volunteer involving organisations across WA the opportunity to apply for a grant to organise an event or activity which recognised and thanked volunteers during National Volunteer Week.

This year’s 233 grant recipients spanned from the Kimberley to the Great Southern, ensuring organisations from every region of Western Australia had the opportunity to recognise their volunteers.

These events helped volunteering organisations say ‘thank you’ to those Western Australians who give so much for the betterment of our communities. Volunteering WA wishes to thank Lotterywest for their support in celebrating the contribution of WA’s volunteers.

Did you see landmarks across WA light up red this past week?

Each year WA landmarks light up red in support of volunteering, and in 2025 we reached further into the regions to ensure volunteers across the state felt the impact. This year’s participating landmarks included RAC Arena, Main Roads, Parliament House, Eastern Goldfields Community Centre, WA Shipwrecks Museum, Port of Albany, Shark Bay Unity Sculpture, and the Yagan Square Digital Tower.

New for 2025, we coordinated the Kind Words Challenge, a heartfelt volunteering activity which invited Western Australians to write a supportive, handwritten message to someone in need. From seniors in aged care to new parents, these messages helped a variety of people feel seen, valued, and connected.

We were pleased to see people take up this micro-volunteering opportunity, paying a visit to their local Volunteer Resource Centre to brighten someone’s day.

Inspired by National Volunteer Week to start your volunteering journey?

Head to our volunteer portal to find volunteer opportunities, or approach organisations in your local community to find out what’s on offer. There’s a perfect role for everyone in volunteering. All you have to do is look!