Nominations open for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards (Australia)

Deadline: 29-May-2026

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards 2026, organised by The Centre for Volunteering, recognise outstanding volunteers, volunteer leaders, teams, and boards across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The awards celebrate individuals and groups who contribute their time and skills for community benefit without financial gain. Nominations are open until 29 May 2026, and winners are recognised at regional ceremonies and a State Gala in Sydney.

Overview

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards honour the dedication, impact, and community service of volunteers across New South Wales. The awards highlight individuals and teams who contribute to their communities through voluntary service, leadership, and governance in nonprofit organisations.

Run annually by The Centre for Volunteering, the awards aim to promote the value of volunteering and acknowledge the contributions of people who help strengthen communities across the state.

Participants can be nominated for recognition at regional ceremonies and may progress to state-level awards.

Key Dates

Important timelines for the 2026 awards include:

• Nominations Close: 29 May 2026

• Save the Date Notifications: By the end of July

• Regional Ceremonies: August–September

• Volunteer Leader & Governance Awards Ceremony (Sydney): November

• State Gala Ceremony (Sydney): December

Award Categories

The awards feature seven categories recognising different forms of volunteer contribution.

Individual Volunteer Categories

These categories recognise volunteers based on age groups and leadership roles.

• Young Volunteer of the Year

• Adult Volunteer of the Year

• Senior Volunteer of the Year

• Emergency Volunteer of the Year

• Volunteer Leader of the Year

Team and Governance Categories

• Volunteer Team of the Year

• Not-for-Profit Voluntary Governance Award (for unpaid board members or boards demonstrating governance excellence)

These categories celebrate both individual impact and collaborative volunteer efforts.

Who Can Be Nominated?

Eligible nominees must meet specific criteria related to location, volunteer activity, and organisational involvement.

Eligibility Requirements

Nominees must:

• Reside in New South Wales (NSW), Australia

• Be actively involved in volunteering or volunteer leadership

• Have volunteered during the previous 12 months

• Provide their personal residential suburb for individual categories

• Be involved with a legitimate organisation that engages volunteers safely and legally

Eligible Organisations

Volunteer work must take place with one of the following:

• Not-for-profit organisations

• Community groups

• Schools

• Government agencies

• Other organisations that engage volunteers responsibly

Definition of Volunteering

For the purpose of these awards, volunteering is defined as:

Time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.

Who Can Submit a Nomination?

Nominations must be submitted by another person or organisation.

Important rules:

• Volunteers cannot nominate themselves

• Volunteer leaders and managers cannot self-nominate

• The nominator must have permission to disclose personal information about the nominee

Organisations can nominate multiple volunteers, and large organisations can request a bulk nomination spreadsheet for recognising 20 or more volunteers.

Nomination Pathways

The nomination form offers two pathways depending on the level of recognition sought.

1. Recognition Stream

This pathway is designed to acknowledge volunteers locally.

Requirements:

• Completion of four sections of the nomination form

• Nominees receive a certificate of recognition

• Recognition occurs at one of 25 regional ceremonies

If the nominee’s personal email address is provided, they will receive an invitation to the ceremony. If not, the certificate will be sent to the nominator by the end of 2026.

2. Judging Stream

This pathway allows nominees to compete for regional and state awards.

Requirements:

• Completion of six sections of the nomination form

• Detailed explanation of the nominee’s:

  • Volunteer role

  • Responsibilities

  • Community impact

• Submission of two referees

Important rule:
One referee must represent the organisation or group where the nominee volunteers.

A personal email address is mandatory for judging eligibility. Incomplete nominations are automatically moved to the Recognition stream.

How the Selection Process Works

The awards follow a multi-stage recognition and judging process.

Step 1: Nomination Submission

Nominators submit an online nomination through either the Recognition or Judging stream.

Step 2: Regional Ceremonies

Nominees are invited to attend regional ceremonies where regional winners are announced.

Step 3: State-Level Selection

Regional winners are invited to attend the State Gala Ceremony in Sydney.

Step 4: State Awards Announcement

At the State Gala in December, the following are announced:

• NSW Volunteer of the Year

• Category winners at the state level

The Volunteer Leader of the Year and Not-for-Profit Voluntary Governance Award are recognised separately at a Sydney ceremony in November.

Judging and Evaluation

Two independent judging panels review nominations.

Regional Panel

Selects winners at the regional level.

State Panel

Chooses the overall state winners.

Judges must:

• Declare any conflicts of interest

• Avoid assessing nominations where conflicts exist

The Centre for Volunteering may also:

• Verify nomination details

• Request additional information

• Disqualify nominations that do not comply with the guidelines

Tips for a Strong Nomination

Submitting a detailed and thoughtful nomination increases the chances of recognition.

Clearly describe the volunteer’s impact
Explain how the nominee has helped individuals, organisations, or communities.

Provide measurable results
Include examples such as programs delivered, people helped, or community initiatives led.

Highlight leadership or innovation
Demonstrate how the volunteer has gone beyond basic responsibilities.

Choose strong referees
Referees should be able to clearly explain the nominee’s contributions.

Complete all required sections
Incomplete nominations may be moved to the Recognition stream instead of judging.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these issues when submitting nominations:

• Attempting self-nomination

• Not providing the nominee’s personal email address

• Missing required sections in the nomination form

• Failing to include two referees for judging

• Providing vague or incomplete descriptions of volunteer work

Ensuring complete and clear information strengthens the nomination.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards?

They are annual awards recognising volunteers, volunteer leaders, teams, and governance boards who make significant contributions to communities across New South Wales, Australia.

2. Who organises the awards?

The awards are organised by The Centre for Volunteering, the peak body for volunteering in NSW.

3. Can volunteers nominate themselves?

No. Self-nominations are not allowed. Volunteers must be nominated by another person or organisation.

4. What is the difference between the Recognition and Judging streams?

The Recognition stream provides certificates at regional ceremonies, while the Judging stream allows nominees to compete for regional and state-level awards.

5. What happens after a nomination is submitted?

Nominees receive invitations to regional ceremonies, where regional winners are announced and may progress to the State Gala in Sydney.

6. What documents are required for judging nominations?

Judging nominations require:

• Detailed description of volunteer contributions

• Two referees

• The nominee’s personal email address

7. When is the nomination deadline?

Nominations close on Friday, 29 May 2026.

Why These Awards Matter

Volunteers play a critical role in supporting nonprofit organisations, emergency services, community programs, and local initiatives.

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards:

• Recognise the social impact of volunteering

• Encourage community participation

• Celebrate leadership and service

• Highlight the importance of governance in nonprofit organisations

By honouring volunteers, the awards inspire more people to contribute their time and skills to community development.

Conclusion

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards 2026 provide an important platform to recognise the outstanding contributions of volunteers across New South Wales. Through regional ceremonies and a state-level gala, the awards celebrate individuals and teams who dedicate their time to improving communities without financial reward.

With nominations open until 29 May 2026, community members and organisations have the opportunity to acknowledge the volunteers who make a lasting difference across the state.

For more information, visit The Centre for Volunteering.