The South Australian Volunteer Awards celebrate the important contributions of volunteers, managers, organisations and businesses to our community.
We are proud to recognise the 2025 winners and finalists.
Joy Noble Medal
South Australia’s highest distinction for an individual volunteer.
Danica Gates – Chair of Beacon of Hope, Tumby Bay and Districts Suicide Prevention Network (Eyre Peninsula)
Following the devastating loss of her brother in 2016, Danica has devoted the past eight years to suicide prevention in her rural community of Tumby Bay and Districts. As founding Chairperson of the Beacon of Hope Suicide Prevention Network, she’s worked tirelessly to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and empower others through education and connection.
Despite no prior committee experience, Danica established the Suicide Prevention Network from the ground up, facilitated training, organised events, and advocated for safe conversations informed by lived experience. Danica co-wrote and won a SPARK Grant from the Fay Fuller Foundation to explore sustainable preventative practices in mental wellbeing in Tumby Bay and Districts. She’s also spoken at state and national conferences, completed leadership training, and received the 2022 Rowan Ramsay Community Award.
Through her efforts, individuals, families, schools, and the broader community have gained better access to resources, services, and understanding.
Danica's unwavering dedication, compassion, and advocacy has empowered the community to be more aware, informed and compassionate of risk factors and signs of suicide and to learn to better support one another.
Category finalists
Lisa O’Malley – The Carer Project
Dr Jelina Haines – University of South Australia
Eman Rahim – Heart & Soul Group
The Young Volunteer Award
Recognising an impressive young volunteer. The Young Volunteer Award is presented in partnership with Volunteering SA&NT and the Youth Affairs Council of SA (YACSA).
Lucy Stevens – The Smith Family
Lucy Stevens has dedicated over a decade to volunteer service, making a profound impact both locally and globally. A passionate advocate for youth development, Indigenous reconciliation, and social justice, she has led initiatives across the arts, education, and humanitarian causes. From singing with the Adelaide University Conservatorium Chorale to mentoring young people through Rotary’s RYLA and Camp Kickstart, Lucy’s leadership empowers others.
Internationally, she raised funds for World Vision, studied sustainable development in Africa, and led a global 6 kilometre Walk for Water, raising $1,500 for clean water. She also helped establish a long-running Bread Tags for Wheelchairs program at her school.
As a non-Indigenous Reconciliation Ambassador, Lucy partnered with Kaurna Elders to lead student engagement and contribute to her school’s Reconciliation Action Plan. Volunteer placements with the Magdalene Centre, Welcome Centre, and Salvation Army highlight her compassion.
Now working with The Smith Family’s Indigenous Youth Leadership Program, Lucy continues to lead with gratitude, inclusion, and a growth mindset as well as a deep understanding of the importance of connecting community.
Category finalists
Edward Mickan – multiple not-for-profits
Tom Rungie – Blackwood Lions Club
William Seton – SA Ambulance, Morgan Volunteer station
‘The Andamooka’ Community Project Award
Recognising a community or group volunteer project of significant community benefit.
Chihuly in the Botanic Garden Volunteers, Botanic Garden and State Herbarium
Chihuly in the Botanic Garden transformed Adelaide Botanic Garden into a world-class open-air exhibition, attracting over one million visitors in just six months. Showcasing the glass artistry of Dale Chihuly, the event gave a major boost to South Australia’s tourism economy, with one-third of attendees visiting from interstate or overseas.
At the heart of this success was the remarkable contribution of more than 250 volunteers, who contributed over 10,000 hours across roles including tour guiding, exhibition support, accessibility assistance, and educational workshops. They delivered multilingual tours, supported school groups, enhanced the horticultural team with Chihuly-themed displays, and became the welcoming face of the exhibition.
The project also introduced new leadership structures, digital tools, and peer mentoring, laying the groundwork for a revitalised, inclusive volunteering model at the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium. Their contribution strengthened community connections and set a new standard for volunteer engagement in large-scale cultural experiences in South Australia.
Category finalists
The South Australian Youth Forum - The South Australian Youth Forum Inc.
Enabled Youth Disability Network Project - Enabled Youth Disability Network Project
Revival: A legacy of Resilience and Community Empowerment - Brukunga Community Association Inc.
The Excellence in Volunteer Management Award
Recognising a volunteer manager for their outstanding contribution to the profession. The Excellence in Volunteer Management Award is presented in partnership with Volunteering SA&NT.
Ryan Sims – Botanic Garden and State Herbarium, Chihuly in the Botanic Garden
An active volunteer program was already in place before Chihuly in the Botanic Garden, the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, however, the exhibition’s scale required a major expansion in volunteer numbers and roles.
Seizing the opportunity, Volunteer Coordinator Ryan Sims embraced a more inclusive and flexible model that welcomed more than 250 volunteers into new roles, while continuing to support existing teams across horticulture, education, science, and cultural collections.
Ryan’s leadership fostered a diverse, empowered, and committed volunteer cohort. He matched people with roles aligned to their skills and interests, mentored newcomers and championed professional development, and remained deeply engaged through mentoring and hands-on support. He also contributed to the rollout of a new volunteer management system, empowering a small team of digital champions to assist others.
Through Ryan’s values of respect, inclusion, and empowerment, volunteers felt supported, valued and inspired. Their contribution enriched the visitor experience, strengthened community ties, boosted the local economy, and helped make Chihuly a resounding triumph—thanks in no small part to Ryan’s leadership.
Category finalists
Bridy Bartsch – Share the Dignity, South Australia
Ralph Drage – Technology for Ageing and Disability SA Inc.
The Premier's Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
Recognising the community contribution of a South Australian for-profit business.
Virtual School Australia
Virtual School Australia (VSA) is an award-winning, volunteer-powered platform delivering empathy-driven education since 2016. Blending academic excellence with social impact, VSA volunteers empower students—especially refugees and those from low-income backgrounds—through hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) programs in safe, nurturing environments.
A cornerstone of VSA’s work is free online education for marginalised and vulnerable learners. During the pandemic, it swiftly launched free online learning for isolated students around the world, earning the 2021 Blackboard Award for Teaching and Learning.
Beyond the classroom, VSA volunteers support initiatives in arts, social advocacy, and community development—from literacy and science programs to cultural performances at the Adelaide and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. These events, often volunteer-led, give voice to stories of resilience and hope.
Volunteers also support projects like street plays on gender-based violence and mentor young writers through the Elaine Hobson Memorial Literary Festival. Through events like the Global Empathy Conference, VSA continues to foster connection, global dialogue, and compassion—driven by its passionate volunteer community.
Category finalists
BTR Excavation Pty Ltd
Gallagher Bassett
Joy Noble Medal
Dulcie Boag - Hutt Street Centre
Dulcie Boag has been an integral part of Hutt St Centre for over 44 years, contributing her time, skills, and compassion to almost all aspects of the organisation.
Dulcie has helped the Hutt St Centre through its Op Shop, front reception, sorting donations, coordinating fundraising efforts and events, and helping out in the kitchen.
Her steadfast presence and compassionate nature have been a source of comfort and support for countless individuals facing homelessness.
In a terrific recent milestone of her own, Dulcie has celebrated her 89th birthday — which equates to her committing almost half her life to Hutt St Centre!
Category finalists
Neil Davis
Linda Fisk
Aida Garcia
Dale Thompson
April Wilson
The Young Volunteer Award
Atiu Kuot Madut
Atiu has volunteered with the Australian Refugee Association (ARA) since 2018 as a Peer Leader in its Youth Ambassador program.
After being a participant, she has returned each year as a mentor to new students undertaking the program. The program focuses on developing leadership skills and confidence for high school students who are passionate about refugee issues, so that they can be advocates for positive change.
Through her involvement as a volunteer, Atiu has played a meaningful role in helping young people identify their ideas, vision for their communities and discover their unique leadership style and capacity.
Category finalists
Daniel Jesudason
Meg O’Leary-Fletcher
Max Tavella
Amy Wallace
‘The Andamooka’ Community Project Award
APY Lands Shelter Project - The Rotary Club of Onkaparinga
Through the APY Lands Shelter Project, the Rotary Club of Onkaparinga designed and constructed a number of purpose-built roadside shelters with an accompanying water tank, wind protection and table setting which are placed adjacent to roadsides in strategic locations.
With the APY Lands covering over 103,000 square kilometres, this very remote part of South Australia poses significant issues for the indigenous people when travelling between communities.
Having a designated, known place to rest or to seek emergency shelter, to have access to shade, wind break and water is a vital component of keeping people safe in these remote areas.
Category finalists
ARC Learner Driver Mentor Program (LDMP) - Australian Red Cross
Share the Dignity SA Volunteer Program - Share the Dignity SA
The Wheelchair Restoration Project (The Wheelies)
The Excellence in Volunteer Management Award
Manju Shelke - Northern Healthcare Volunteer Association
Each year the Northern Healthcare Volunteer Association has provided an average of 97,000 hours of community service to patients and families across the Lyell McEwin Hospital, Modbury Hospital, James Nash House and Northgate.
Manju Shelke has made a huge impact as Volunteer Coordinator. Her review of the program helped to identify opportunities where volunteers could better support the needs of the Health System.
Manju collaboratively developed the greatly appreciated 'Comfort Care Program', where volunteers can cuddle, read, sing, play or just sit with infants or children to provide support when hospital staff are occupied performing clinical tasks.
She also revived and revitalised the much-valued Palliative Care Biography program at the Modbury Hospital, which enables patients in Palliative Care to share and record their life story as they near the end of life.
Category finalists
Nicole Bradtke
Dr Robyn Molsher
The Premier's Award for Corporate Social Responsibility
Beyond Bank Australia
Beyond Bank is one of Australia’s largest customer-owned banks with branches and offices across Australia.
It partners with more than 5000 community organisations around the nation to create and return value for its customers and communities and, through this, change lives.
Beyond Bank is a huge supporter of volunteering, facilitating corporate volunteering programs and providing staff with 2 fully paid volunteer leave days a year — with its SA team volunteering for nearly 740 hours in 2023.
Category finalists
Detmold Group
Freightmaster Semi Trailers Pty Ltd
Perk Accountants and Wealth Advisors
The Yoghurt Shop