An Albion-based domestic violence charity has claimed the state’s highest volunteering honour after leading a massive wave of forty-nine thousand local heroes who are keeping communities safe and supported.
A Massive Celebration of Service
The Queensland Volunteering Awards took place on 15 May 2026 to celebrate the massive scale of community service across the region. This year holds special meaning as the United Nations has designated 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers.
The event highlighted the work of forty-nine thousand seven hundred and twenty-two individuals who were nominated across the state. In total, community groups submitted two hundred and seventy-five nominations, which the judging panels narrowed down to twenty-one finalists and eight ultimate recipients across six separate categories.
Top Honours for Grassroots Leaders
Carolyn Robinson from Beyond DV took home the main Volunteer of the Year Award for her efforts. Other major individual winners included Jaylyn Rongo, who received the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award for work with DonateLife Queensland.
Phillip Smith won the New to Volunteering Award for driving the Ride in Shorts for Leah campaign, while Roger Whyte received the Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award for his long-term commitment to the Queensland Rugby League. In the leadership category, Nicole Ashley from Play Matters Australia won the Excellence in Volunteer Management Award.
The Catalyst and Foundation
Beyond DV was born out of a lived family experience. In 2017, Brisbane resident and long-time educator Carolyn Robinson received a 5:00 AM telephone call from the police informing her that her younger daughter had been physically assaulted by her partner.
Over the next six months, Robinson accompanied her daughter through the unsettling and often isolating court process. Standing in the courtroom, she observed hundreds of women from all walks of life navigating the exact same trauma. Recognising a profound gap in the long-term recovery phase for survivors—where initial crisis intervention ends but the rebuilding of a life begins—she decided to act.
Drawing on her 36-year background as an educator, Robinson sought to bypass rigid, “one-size-fits-all” institutional frameworks. She formally registered Beyond DV as a charity in late 2017 and officially launched its first programs in January 2018 with just three volunteers.
Groups Making a Difference
Organisations also received major recognition for their structured programs that help vulnerable residents. Foodbank Queensland won the Community Volunteering Impact Award for its massive food distribution and relief network. In the government sector, Sunshine Coast Health took out the top spot for its widespread volunteer initiative. Origin Energy also secured an award for its corporate volunteering program.
Supporting Communities Through Tough Times
Organisers explained that volunteers are currently providing essential support as families deal with rising living costs and a higher demand for local services. Volunteering Queensland chief executive officer Jane Hedger stated that these awards offer an important moment to value the people who keep communities stable during difficult periods. Minister for Volunteers Ann Leahy stated that the administration is focused on backing these everyday helpers and ensuring their massive contributions receive the respect and practical support they deserve.
Published Date 18-May-2026
