National Volunteer Week 2025: Volunteers are the backbone of communities

26/05/2025

Thank you for celebrating with us, and a very special thank you to every volunteer making a contribution to Western Australia.

Taking place between Monday 19 - Sunday 25 May 2025, National Volunteer Week saw thousands of events and activities take place across the country to celebrate the power of volunteering.

We were thrilled to see organisations from all regions of Western Australia recognise our 1.5 million volunteers. This year’s theme, ‘Connecting Communities’, resonated with communities across the state. We all know that volunteering brings people together, creating lasting relationships that enrich lives and strengthen communities.

As the peak body for volunteering in Western Australia, Volunteering WA is proud to lead celebrations. We were thrilled to host the 2025 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards, to support events and activities, and to see our social media feeds flooded with gratitude for WA’s extraordinary volunteers.

Let’s dive in and see what the week of celebrations entailed across WA.

The week in review

2025 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards

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

Statewide events and activities

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.

WA landmarks light up red

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.

Kind Words for people in need of some extra kindness

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.

Continuing the impact

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!