Nominate now for the 2026 South Australian Volunteer Awards
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 up our communities – from crisis response to neighbourhood support – and these awards honour their generosity and talent, which can often go unrecognised.
Award categories
People can nominate themselves or another group or individual or business in the following categories:
- 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.
- 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.
A legacy of positive change
Recipients of the 2025 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.
South Australia boasts a cohort of more than 950,000 volunteers who contribute an estimated 223 million hours each year, equivalent to $36 billion in social and economic value.
Nominate today
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 26 January 2026 at 5pm.
Learn more and nominate via the Volunteering SA&NT website.
The 2026 South Australian Volunteer Awards will be held for the first time at the new venue of Government House, coinciding with National Volunteer Week, which runs from 18 to 24 May 2026.
The awards are presented by Volunteering SA&NT and supported by the South Australian Department of Human Services.