- National Volunteer Week 2026 concludes with celebration of WA Volunteer Service Awards
- 2026 Youth Ambassadors join long-serving volunteers at ceremony
- Over 4,500 volunteers recognised since 2012 through the awards program
The 2026 National Volunteer Week has officially come to an end, with some of Western Australia's longest-serving volunteers formally acknowledged at the WA Volunteer Service Awards ceremony.
National Volunteer Week (18-24 May) saw 224 Lotterywest-funded events held across Western Australia, demonstrating the immense and varied contributions made by volunteers.
Today's awards ceremony, an annual highlight hosted by the Department of Communities, closed out the successful week of events by formally acknowledging 458 individuals in Western Australia who have volunteered for five or more years.
This included 11 longstanding volunteers who have each contributed an impressive 50 years or more of volunteering, with three incredible individuals recognised for a Lifetime Achievement Award (60 years of volunteering or more). They are:
- Ron Hancock (Health and Disability - nominated by Bethanie Inc);
- Mavis Hamilton (Youth - nominated by Girl Guides); and
- Joseph McLaughlin (Emergency Services - nominated by Geraldton-Greenough State Emergency Service Unit).
The awards were also a display of the diverse nature of volunteering in WA, with individuals of a variety of ages, experiences, backgrounds, and sectors recognised, including:
- Grace Ahearn (for six years of volunteering at Aligned Living in the youth/mental health space, at just 22 years of age);
- Five members of the Albany Roller Derby - Michelle Backhouse, Jordan Carson, Hazel McAnulty, Lia Nicholson, and Tegan Stoney (who each reached their 10-year milestones this year); and
- Jan Howell and Carol Grace (for 39 and 26 years respectively as Braille transcribers at VisAbility).
As stated by Volunteering Minister Hannah Beazley:
"Volunteering is the lifeblood of our communities across Western Australia and I am delighted to see this year's WA Volunteer Service Awards nominees recognised for their efforts.
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to building more inclusive communities, and volunteers play an integral role in that.
"In particular, I would like to congratulate Mavis, Ron, and Joseph for reaching Lifetime Achievement status. Collectively, these three amazing volunteers have contributed an astonishing 187 years of service to their communities.
"The fact that there were 458 nominations for these awards displays how devoted our volunteers are and how keen their peers are to have that devotion recognised.
"As both Minister for Volunteering and Minister for Youth, I'm also pleased the 2026 WA Youth Week Ambassadors joined the awards ceremony for the first time, showcasing the strong and growing link between youth engagement and volunteering."
