In 1985, the United Nations designated 5 December as International Volunteer Day. It encourages organisations to celebrate the efforts of their volunteers, while raising public awareness of their contributions in the community.
In 2025 the title "Thank a Volunteer Day" will be retired and "International Volunteer Day" will be used solely.
Thank a Volunteer Day WA Certificate of Recognition
To help celebrate, the State Government provides a certificate template signed by the Minister for Volunteering. The certificate is a way to thank and recognise the incredible contribution volunteers make to our communities in WA.
The template is provided for volunteering organisations and is available in editable packs of single, 10 and 25 certificates.
To access and download the 2024 certificate template please complete the online form
A Word version is available for mail merge upon request via email: volunteering@communities.wa.gov.au
Thank a Volunteer Day Grants Program
The Department of Communities also delivers the Thank a Volunteer Day Grants Program which offers grants of up to $1,000 for organisations to host volunteer recognition events or associated activities to celebrate International Volunteer Day.
Applications for the 2024 Thank a Volunteer Day Grants Program are closed.
Check out the Thank a Volunteer Day Celebration Grants Program recipients.
We would love to see photos of your Thank a Volunteer Day WA events on social media. Tag us using #ThankAVolunteerDayWA or @DepartmentofCommunities (Facebook) @DepartmentofCommunitiesWA (LinkedIn), @communities_wa (Instagram)
We would love to see photos of your Thank a Volunteer Day WA events on social media. Tag us using #ThankAVolunteerDayWA or @DepartmentofCommunities (Facebook) @DepartmentofCommunitiesWA (LinkedIn) @communities_wa (Instagram)
If you have any questions please email volunteering@communities.wa.gov.au.
Please note:
In 2025 the title "Thank a Volunteer Day" will be retired, and "International Volunteer Day" will be used solely to align with the United Nations title for this celebration.
