Nominations Are Open for 2026 Tasmanian Volunteering Awards

Media Release – Volunteering Tasmania, 20 May 2026

Nominations Open for 2026 Tasmanian Volunteering Awards

Each year, the Tasmanian Volunteering Awards celebrate the incredible work done by Tasmanian volunteers. Volunteers are the backbone of Tasmanian communities – we look out for each other and find ways to give back.

We’re excited to open nominations for the Tasmanian Volunteering Awards 2026 – a celebration of volunteering, in International Volunteer Year and during National Volunteer Week.

With 332,100 Tasmanians contributing a staggering 89.4 million hours to their communities, it’s time to make their incredible contributions visible. People volunteer for many reasons – enjoyment, to help others, and for social and community connection. Let’s raise the visibility of these wonderful community contributions.

If you know a volunteer, group or organisation making a difference in Tasmania, nominate them now. Nominations are open from 20 May and close 15 July.

Through seven Award Categories we honour those that have dedicated their time to making a difference.

The Categories are:

1. Tasmanian Youth Volunteer of the Year Award 

An individual, team or group (aged 12-25) whose volunteering contributions have made a significant positive impact on their community over the past year. Nominees will have demonstrated their dedicated commitment to a cause and applied a considerable amount of energy, effort, thought or skill to their volunteering work.

2. Inclusive Volunteering Award

Recognises an individual, team or organisation who have demonstrated active commitment to inclusive practices and behaviours by reducing and removing barriers to volunteer participation over the past year. The nominees’ efforts will have created a significant and beneficial social impact in their organisation, in community, or for individuals, through valuing diversity and enhancing inclusion.

3. Excellence in Volunteer Leadership and Management Award

Recognises a volunteer manager, coordinator, or leader for their outstanding contribution to the profession over the past year. Nominees will have built effective volunteer networks and partnerships, empowered others, or proactively engaged and strengthened community.

4. Workplace Volunteering Impact Award

Presented in recognition of a workplace team from for-profit, not-for-profit, or corporate organisations who have created positive impact through workplace volunteering over the past year.

5. Volunteer Impact Award – Individual

Celebrates an individual whose volunteering has made a remarkable difference for people, a community, group, organisation, or cause in Tasmania over the past year. Nominees will have led or inspired positive change through their volunteering.

6. Volunteer Impact Award – Group or Program

Presented in recognition of a community group or community-led program that have provided important local services, led positive change, or supported significant improvements and benefits in the community over the past year.

7. Lifetime Commitment Award

Honours a dedicated and passionate individual with a sustained and substantial record of volunteer commitment throughout their lifetime to a community, group, organisation, or cause in Tasmania, which has created positive change. This Award is open to people over the age of 18, who have devoted a significant proportion of their life to volunteering.

All individual category winners that are involved on a voluntary basis will go into the running for the Premier’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

Nominations can be submitted here. Finalists will be announced in August and the Awards Ceremony will be held on 18 September.

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