The prestigious Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Award recognises extraordinary volunteering service, commitment and impact for people, a community, group, organisation, or cause in Victoria.

This Award is not open for nominations. The recipient of this award will be selected from outstanding candidates in the individual volunteer categories below.

This category celebrates individuals whose volunteering has made a remarkable difference for people, a community, group, organisation, or cause in Victoria.

Nominees may be volunteer innovators and pioneers or dedicated hard workers whose contributions have led to a demonstratable positive change.

This category recognises exceptional volunteers who lead, mentor, empower or coordinate other volunteers, outside of a paid professional capacity.

Nominees will have shown exceptional volunteer leadership and influence in support of people, a community, group, organisation, or cause in Victoria. They may have built effective volunteer networks and partnerships, contributed to volunteer engagement and retention or strengthened community connection.

This category pays tribute to dedicated individuals with a sustained and substantial record of volunteering to support people, a community, group, organisation, or cause in Victoria.

It recognises the long-serving volunteers whose reliability and commitment underpins organisational and community outcomes, and whose enthusiasm for volunteering is an inspiration to others.

This category recognises and celebrates the enthusiasm, initiative and leadership of young people in volunteering.

Open to individuals 25 years and younger, nominees will be inspiring young people who have made a remarkable impact through volunteering for people, a community, group, organisation, or cause in Victoria.

The Volunteering Excellence Award recognises an exceptional volunteer-involving organisation that demonstrates overall excellence in making a significant difference for people, a community, group, or cause in Victoria.

This Award is not open for nominations. The recipient of this award will be selected from outstanding candidates in the organisation categories below.

This category recognises organisations that reduce barriers to volunteering and champion equity, access and participation in order to broaden who can volunteer.

Nominees will have demonstrated inclusive and accessible volunteering practices that increase volunteer diversity and participation.

This category recognises the importance of collaborations and partnerships to achieve positive outcomes for communities or causes in Victoria.

Nominees will have built and maintained purposeful, enduring partnerships that enabled them to make a significant and sustained difference, beyond what could have been achieved on their own.

This category recognises the role of adaptation and responsiveness to continually improve the volunteer experience or enhance supports for people, a community, group, or cause in Victoria.

Nominated organisations will have implemented new or adapted approaches to address challenges in volunteer engagement. This may include innovative use of digital tools, flexible and unique volunteering models, or new practices to improve volunteering in their organisation.

This category recognises the positive impact achieved by small organisations with limited resources.

It celebrates the community leadership and responsiveness of small grassroots organisations that may have provided important local services, led positive change, or supported connection in social and community life.

This award is only open to organisations that are entirely volunteer-led and operated, with a turnover of less than $75,000 a year.