August has been a significant month for Volunteering SA&NT, giving us an opportunity to reflect on our history while celebrating the next generation of volunteers shaping our future.
It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of Mavis Reynolds OAM, one of the founders of Volunteering SA&NT, who passed away peacefully on 1 August. Mavis was instrumental in establishing the Volunteer Centre of South Australia in 1982, alongside fellow founder Joy Noble. Their vision laid the foundations for the organisation we are today.
Mavis' passion, leadership and unwavering belief in the power of volunteering have left an extraordinary legacy. We extend our heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and working alongside her. It was particularly meaningful to hear Minister for Human Services Katrine Hildyard MP acknowledge Mavis and her contribution during our recent SVA Service Award Top Volunteers Ceremony.
The ceremony was also a wonderful way to celebrate National Youth Volunteer Week, recognising thirteen exceptional young South Australians. Since 2023, more than 2,183 students have participated in the SVA Service Award, contributing almost 40,000 volunteer hours. With the South Australian Government's $1 million investment over the next four years, we're excited to bring the program to more schools and create opportunities for thousands more young people.
It was a pleasure to welcome Minister Hildyard to celebrate with us, and I was also pleased to hear the Minister reference findings from our 2026 State of Volunteering Report. It is encouraging to see the report cementing itself as an important evidence base for understanding volunteering in South Australia and informing conversations about the future of our sector.
It was fantastic, too, to see the stories of our young volunteers reach a much wider audience through strong media coverage. I encourage you to watch and share some of their stories.
There is plenty more ahead. Our Learning & Development Roadshow is about to hit the road, bringing face-to-face learning and opportunities for connection to regional communities, with our first session now open for registration. We also have an upcoming governance course delivered in partnership with VUCA, designed to strengthen the capability and performance of not-for-profit volunteer boards. Check more details below.
For our members, we've recently shared information about membership renewals and some exciting developments coming over the next 12 months. From a new members-only portal and expanded learning and development to more networking opportunities and improved systems, we're continuing to focus on delivering practical value and support to organisations across the sector.
This month has been a powerful reminder of the legacy on which our organisation was built and the new generations who will carry volunteering forward. Thank you for continuing to be part of that story.
Hamilton Calder Chief Executive Officer
SVA Service Award Top Volunteers Ceremony - Celebrating South Australia’s outstanding young volunteers! What a fantastic way to mark National Youth Volunteer Week, recognising 13 exceptional young people through the SVA Service Award. These students are making a real difference in their communities while building valuable skills, confidence and connections through volunteering.
We were delighted to welcome Minister for Human Services, Katrine Hildyard MP, who joined us to celebrate the students and present their certificates. We thank the Minister and the South Australian Government for their continued support, and the $1 million investment to expand the SVA Service Award over the next four years. A special thank you to our guest speaker, Max Wang, who shared his inspiring volunteering journey and encouraged our young volunteers to continue getting involved and making a difference.
Since launching in South Australia in 2023, more than 2,183 students have completed the SVA Service Award, contributing almost 40,000 volunteer hours. With this new investment, we’re excited to bring the program to more schools and create opportunities for thousands more young South Australians. It was wonderful to see these stories celebrated more widely too, with coverage from Channel 10 News, Channel 9 News and The Advertiser. Congratulations to our award recipients, and thank you to the schools, families, partners and everyone who helped make the celebration possible. Watch the videos below and get to know more about our young volunteers' journeys:
Thank you for helping to make the inaugural National Youth Volunteer Week a big success! During the National Youth Volunteer Week webinar, five young volunteer leaders shared what helps young people begin volunteering, feel that they belong and continue to contribute.
The conversation was filled with honesty, insight and practical wisdom. The panellists spoke about the confidence, connection and purpose they have gained through volunteering, alongside the barriers that can make participation difficult.
Learn more about the two panellists representing South Australia:
CPD Program News
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plays an important role in strengthening volunteer leadership across our sector. It gives people the chance to reflect on their practice, build their skills, recognise the learning they are already doing, and stay connected to current ideas and good practice.
VSA&NT warmly congratulate the four CPD trial participants from SA and the NT who recently achieved CPD recognition through VSA&NT and the Centre for Volunteering.
This achievement recognises their commitment to ongoing learning, professional growth and reflective practice in volunteer leadership. It also means they can use the post-nominal PLV, Professional Leader of Volunteers, for the next 12 months.
One of the most exciting outcomes of the trial was the diversity of participants. The four successful candidates came from community services, health, emergency services and local government, showing that whatever your volunteer leadership role or organisation, CPD provides an opportunity to showcase your commitment to professional development and excellence in volunteer leadership.
VSA&NT looks forward to building on the learnings from the trial and continuing to support professional development opportunities for volunteer leaders across South Australia and the Northern Territory. Watch this space for more exciting CPD updates!
Recognise your outstanding volunteers
Nominations are now open for the Premier’s Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Service – an opportunity especially for volunteer-involving organisations and community groups to thank those who go above and beyond.There’s no limit on nominations, so if you have more than one person or group in mind, celebrate their contribution and nominate them all!
Nominations close at 11.59 pm on 30 September 2026.
Certificates will be posted in time for International Volunteer Day on 5 December, and many organisations choose to celebrate the occasion with a local presentation or event.
For more than 20 years Anti-Poverty Week has operated in Australia around the 17th of October, the UN Day for the Eradication of Poverty. Our purpose is to help Australians understand poverty and to take action collectively to end it.
Anti-Poverty Week 2026 will run from Sunday 11 October to Saturday 17 October.
Volunteering SA&NT is bringing the Learning & Development Roadshow to regional South Australia, with the first workshops taking place in the Riverland.
Designed specifically for volunteer managers, coordinators, leaders and volunteer-involving organisations, these interactive workshops will focus on practical learning, discussion around current volunteering challenges and opportunities, and valuable peer networking.
We're inviting volunteer managers, coordinators, and organisations from across the state to join us and help explore the issues, trends and opportunities shaping volunteering in our communities.
Share ideas, learn practical strategies and connect with others working in the volunteer sector.
Sessions are free for VSA&NT members, with places limited.
Registrations are now open for Riverland. Stay tunned for sessions in new locations, which will open for registration soon.
Secure your place today and join the conversation.
For more learning and development opportunities from across state and territory Volunteering Peak Bodies, check out the training page on theVolunteering Gateway.
Supporting more inclusive communities
Local councils have an important role in creating accessible and inclusive communities where everyone can participate.
The Guide focuses on six principles: disability rights, lived experience and participation in decision-making, intersectionality, trauma-informed practice, inclusive language and universal design. It also includes practical tools, case studies and guidance on leadership, culture and disability action planning.
Available in searchable, PDF, HTML and text-only formats, the Guide is designed to be accessible and easy to use.
Street Side Medics is a not-for-profit, GP-led mobile medical service providing free and compassionate healthcare to people experiencing homelessness. Their clinics are powered by volunteers, bringing together health professionals and community members to help make healthcare more accessible to people who may otherwise face barriers to receiving care.
Excitingly, Street Side Medics is preparing to open its first South Australian clinic in Adelaide in October 2026, supported by a team of local volunteers.
We’re pleased to welcome Street Side Medics to the Volunteering SA&NT member community and look forward to seeing their volunteer program grow in South Australia.
Learn more about Street Side Medics and volunteering with their Adelaide clinic.
Justice Connect is leading the Unlock DGR campaign, calling for reform of Australia’s Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) system, which it argues is outdated, overly complex and prevents around half of registered charities from accessing tax-deductible donations and philanthropic funding.
The campaign encourages organisation with and without DGR status to get involved and advocate to government that charities and communities across Australia want a fairer, simpler system.
How you can get involved
Endorsing the campaign
Contacting local MPs and relevant Ministers to advocate for DGR reform, sharing their experiences of obtaining or being denied DGR status, and encouraging sector partners to support the call for a fairer system.
There is a useful template to help with writing to relevant Ministers.
Did you know we're also on socials!? We'd love for you to like and follow us!
About Volunteering SA&NT Volunteering SA&NT, established in 1982, is a not-for-profit organisation, the peak body for volunteering and a volunteer resource centre, leading the sector in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
We work with individuals, organisations, businesses and communities to lead, advance, grow, promote and celebrate volunteering, providing a range of services, support and resources for all volunteer involving organisations and over one million volunteers.
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Volunteering SA&NT
SA office: L1/300 Flinders Street, Adelaide SA
| NT office: 10 Pavonia Place, Darwin, NT
| Adelaide Head Office: 08 8221 7177 | Darwin Office: 08 8989 4500
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