National Volunteer Week in WA: Celebrating Our State’s Unsung Heroes

27/05/2024

National Volunteer Week took place between Monday 20 – Sunday 26 May 2024 and saw thousands of events and activities taking place across the country. Organisations and individuals alike came together to celebrate Western Australia’s volunteers. For some this involved special events to thank their volunteers, and for others it meant a post to social media, recognising the inspiring contributions of their volunteers. 

The week has a new theme each year, and in 2024 it was ‘Something for Everyone’. It was an invitation to explore the myriad of opportunities available, emphasising there's a place for everyone in the world of volunteering. Whether you're drawn to environmental causes, community outreach, education, or beyond, there's a place where your unique skills and interests can flourish.

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

2024 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards

Each year, excitement builds within the volunteering community for the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards. Hosted by Volunteering WA and taking place  during National Volunteer Week, the awards help celebrate some of the incredible people and organisations who make significant impact in the community through volunteering.

Award recipients were announced during the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards Gala Dinner, on 23 May 2024 at The Westin, Perth.

In 2024 there were 21 finalists named across seven categories. Congratulations to the following award winners:

  • Alanagh Godderidge, WA Excellence in Volunteer Management
  • First Hike Project, WA Inclusive Volunteering Award
  • Joan Ward, WA Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering
  • Zac Cawdron, WA Young Volunteer of the Year
  • Bankwest, WA Excellence in Corporate Volunteering
  • Worthy Australia, WA Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year
  • Peter Geraghty, RAC WA Volunteer of the Year

Read more about the 2024 WA Volunteer of the Year Award winners.

Taking celebrations online

Many Western Australians took their National Volunteer Week celebrations to social media to express their gratitude for volunteers. Both Volunteering Australia and Volunteering WA developed customisable social media assets for this very purpose, ensuring that organisations could easily celebrate their volunteers, and that volunteers themselves could demonstrate their devotion to volunteering. Social media feeds from across the state became a platform for thankfulness, joy and celebration for the week.

For the ‘Something for Everybody’ theme, Volunteering WA also showcased several Western Australians and asked how their volunteering aligned with their passions and skills. The result was a variety of heartwarming answers from a wide range of volunteers.

Volunteering WA was thrilled to see so many Western Australians join to celebrate the transformative impact of everyone finding their role in making a difference.

State-wide 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.

In 2024, 253 WA volunteering organisations from Wellstead to Derby shared in over $335,000. Celebrations included a community clean up and BBQ in Newman, dinner and lawn bowls in Onslow, and a mosaic workshop in Tom Price.

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.

Volunteering WA shares the power of volunteering

Throughout the month of May, Volunteering WA works with local and state media to share the different voices of volunteering and promote the inspiring work of our member organisations. This year, our media team had over 20 stories published across ABC Radio, ABC Pilbara, ABC Great Southern, RTRFM, 6PR, Goolarri Media Enterprises (Broome), PerthNow, South Western Times, PerthNow – Cockburn, TripleM Great Southern,  TripleM Karratha ,  August Margaret River Mail, Farm Weekly, 7News Regional WA, Curtin Radio and the  Albany Advertiser .

WA landmarks 'light up red'

If you saw several landmarks around WA lit up a red during National Volunteer Week, that wasn’t a coincidence.

Each year several landmarks around Perth and the Pilbara light up red in support of National Volunteer Week and this year that included the Bell Tower, Main Roads, Perth Concert Hall, WACA Stadium, Elizabeth Quay Bridge and the City of Karratha’s Red Earth Arts Precinct.

Once again, National Volunteer Week was a resounding opportunity for recognising and celebrating the many volunteers we have here in Western Australia. The week was a fantastic opportunity to connect and celebrate diverse volunteering stories across the state, and we’re pleased to have seen WA organisations and volunteers enthusiastically participating.

All volunteers bring something unique to the table. We encourage all Western Australians to have a think about their passions and talents, and to find a role they will love by clicking here. With thousands of opportunities available, there truly is something for everyone in volunteering.

Volunteering WA wishes to thank the 1.5 million volunteers across WA who give up their time for the good of the community.