Winners announced for the 2024 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards

Image: Zac Cawdron, 2024 WA Young Volunteer of the Year and project officer in the Department of Communities Youth at Risk team.

Seven outstanding volunteers were honoured at the 2024 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards last night.

Held by Volunteering WA as part of National Volunteer Week, the Awards recognise the significant contributions made by volunteers and organisations.

This year’s winners included:

• RAC WA Volunteer of the Year - Peter Geraghty, St John WA
• WA Young Volunteer of the Year - Zac Cawdron, Youth At Risk Network, Department of Communities
• WA Excellence in Volunteer Management - Alanagh Godderidge, Motion by the Ocean
• WA Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering - Joan Ward, volunteering for 74 years
• WA Inclusive Volunteering Award - First Hike Project
• WA Community Volunteer Organisation of the Year - Worthy Australia
• WA Excellence in Corporate Volunteering - Bankwest

21 finalists were shortlisted from 230 nominations received across Western Australia.

Held from 20-26 May, National Volunteer Week celebrates volunteers with this year’s theme ‘Something for Everyone’.

Western Australia has a strong volunteering culture with more than 1.5 million people generously donating their time and giving back to our communities.

The Department of Communities (Communities) Volunteering team plays a vital role in working together with the sector to encourage and assist people to become involved in volunteering.

Zac Cawdron, project officer in Communities Youth at Risk team, won the WA Young Volunteer of the Year category at the awards.

Zac was recognised for his incredible contributions to the Youth at Risk Network (Bedford) who do such important work for vulnerable young people in their day to day work.

At 24 years old, Zac is the volunteer Chair and Coordinator of the Youth At Risk Network (YARN); Board Member for Perth Inner City Youth Service and WA Poets; and participant in the Home Stretch WA advisory for young people leaving care.

Zac passionately advocates for creative expression and provides crucial support to vulnerable youth.

To find out more about volunteering and how to get involved visit our Volunteering in Western Australia website.