For play: Now until 29 May 2026
Community broadcasters across New South Wales are encouraged to broadcast a community service announcement (CSA) promoting the 2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, an important opportunity to recognise the people who power our communities.
The CSA, featuring The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate, is now available for stations to air. By sharing this message, stations can help shine a light on the extraordinary contribution of volunteers across metro and regional NSW.
Why this matters for community broadcasting
Volunteers are at the heart of community broadcasting. They create content, support operations and keep stations connected to their communities. This campaign is a chance to celebrate that impact, not just across the broader community, but within your own station.
Across NSW, more than 4.9 million people volunteer each year, contributing over 1.3 billion hours to their communities. This equates to an estimated $205.3 billion in economic and social value.
About the awards
Now in their 20th year, the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are one of the largest celebrations of volunteering in Australia. They recognise individuals and teams across seven categories, with winners announced through regional ceremonies and a state event later in the year .
Categories include:
- Young Volunteer of the Year
- Adult Volunteer of the Year
- Senior Volunteer of the Year
- Volunteer Team of the Year
- Emergency Volunteer of the Year
- Volunteer Leader of the Year
- Not-for-Profit Voluntary Governance Award
Nominations are open until Friday 29 May 2026.
How your station can get involved
1. Air the CSA
Help amplify the message by adding the announcement to your programming. This is a simple way to support your community and recognise the role of volunteers across NSW.
2. Share the awards with your audience
Encourage listeners to learn more or nominate someone in their community:
3. Nominate your own volunteers
Take this opportunity to recognise the people who make your station possible. Whether it’s presenters, producers, board members or behind-the-scenes volunteers, their contribution deserves to be celebrated.
Celebrating the people behind community radio
Community broadcasting plays a vital role in strengthening connection, sharing local stories and supporting communities, especially in times of need. Volunteers are central to that impact.
Recognising and celebrating volunteers aligns with our shared goal to celebrate our identity and demonstrate impact, as outlined in Roadmap 2033 .
By supporting this campaign, stations can help amplify the value of volunteering, build stronger community connections and highlight the people who make it all possible.