Volunteers are the foundation of community wellbeing and contribute over $14 billion per annum in commercial, civic, and individual benefits to the Canberra Region.
Volunteering goes beyond serving others: it embodies kindness, fosters innovation, encourages inclusion, and builds resilience to overcome challenges. Every volunteer, in their unique way, contributes to making our community stronger, safer, and more connected.
We are excited to announce that nominations are open for two major recognition awards: 2025 Volunteer Manager of the Year Awards and 2025 Volunteering Awards, Canberra Region.
These awards are a celebration of volunteers, volunteer teams, volunteer managers, and volunteer management teams. It is a chance for all of us to acknowledge the impact volunteers make every day. Recognising these efforts is one way we can say ‘thank you’ and inspire more people to step forward to volunteer.
Recognising outstanding volunteer managers and volunteer management teams
The Volunteer Manager of the Year Awards is an annual celebration of volunteer managers in the ACT and surrounding areas. This event elevates the profile of volunteer management as a profession.
The award is presented to an individual volunteer manager or volunteer management team whose leadership and inclusive practices have shaped and strengthened volunteer programs in their organisation and/or community. This might include areas such as community work, sport, education, science, culture, arts, or the environment.
Nominations are open for three categories until 4pm Wednesday 1 October 2025: Volunteer Manager of the Year – Excellence in Best Practice; Volunteer Manager of the Year – Excellence in Inclusion; and Volunteer Management Team of the Year.
Celebrating the spirit of volunteering!
The Volunteering Awards, Canberra Region are an annual celebration of volunteers in the ACT and surrounds, established in 1991. Any individual or team who has volunteered in the region can be nominated, including people who have been nominated in the past.
Nominations are open until 4pm Monday 20 October 2025, for seven categories: Volunteer Team of the Year Award, Volunteer Leadership Award, Inclusion Award, First Nations Volunteer of the Year Award, Young Volunteer of the Year Award, Senior Volunteer of the Year Award, and the Community Support Award.
All nominations for these categories automatically qualify for consideration in the Canberra’s Choice Award and the Volunteer of the Year Award. Public votes determine the Canberra’s Choice Award winner, and our judging panel selects all other winners.
VolunteeringACT encourages you to submit nominations for volunteers, volunteer managers, or volunteering teams or programs and share this opportunity with peers who may know strong nominees.
To nominate and know more about these awards, visit our website: volunteeringact.org.au/nominations-open
Together, we can shine a light on the volunteers who contribute so much to our community!
