Nearly 100 volunteers from across Victoria have been recognised for their incredible dedication to helping others at St John Ambulance Victoria’s Annual Volunteer Awards, held during National Volunteer Week.

Hosted at the Victoria Police Academy on Saturday 23 May, in its beautiful chapel, the 2026 ceremony brought together volunteers, their family members, St John guests and staff to honour those who help keep Victoria safe. The event marked the organisation’s largest volunteer recognition ceremony to date and, for the first time in St John Ambulance Victoria’s history, was held during National Volunteer Week.

The decision to bring the awards forward from their traditional end-of-year schedule at Government House aimed to place an even greater spotlight on the volunteers who work tirelessly to keep Victorian communities safe.

Among those recognised were volunteers who played an important role during Victoria’s devastating 2022 floods, providing emergency assistance and thousands of hours of support to impacted communities across the state.

Chief Executive Officer of St John Ambulance Victoria, Gordon Botwright, said volunteers continue to be at the heart of the organisation’s impact and success.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organisation, and we are incredibly proud of each and every one of them,” Mr Botwright said.

“Their dedication, professionalism and compassion make a genuine difference in the lives of Victorians every single day.”

In 2025 alone, St John Ambulance Victoria supported 13.5 million Victorians through event health services, education, community programs, aged care services and patient transport services.

Across the year, more than 1,857 volunteers contributed an impressive 223,960 hours of service across 2,586 events. Together, they treated 10,736 people, conducted 278 hospital transfers and responded to four cardiac arrests.

“Behind every statistic is a volunteer who stepped forward to help someone in need,” Mr Botwright said.

“Our volunteers give their time, skills and compassion to support Victorians in moments that matter most, from major emergencies and natural disasters to community events and everyday care.”

“This year’s awards are particularly special as we celebrate during National Volunteer Week and acknowledge the remarkable contribution our volunteers continue to make right across the state.”

The awards ceremony is part of a proud St John Ambulance Victoria tradition that dates back to 1885, when volunteers were first recognised for their service at Melbourne Town Hall.

This year’s ceremony celebrated not only significant years of service milestones, but also prestigious honours including the Grand Prior Award, an international recognition presented to Youth members who have completed more than 100 hours of service and demonstrated skills across 12 specialist subjects, including anatomy, road safety, healthcare casualty simulation and emergency management.

The morning was a small tribute to the extraordinary contribution St John volunteers continue to make in communities across Victoria every day.