National Volunteer Week
National Volunteer Week 2025 – Connecting Communities
National Volunteer Week, held from 19-25 May 2025, is an annual celebration of the significant role played by Australia's nearly six million volunteers. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the dedicated individuals who generously contribute their time and effort to serve their communities.
The theme for National Volunteer Week 2025 – ‘Connecting Communities’, is a powerful reminder that behind every emergency response, community initiative, and act of kindness, is a volunteer making a difference. Volunteers help weave the social fabric that binds us, fostering trust, unity, and strength across Western Australia.
At DFES we are proud to recognise the efforts of more than 26,000 fire and emergency services volunteers. Their dedication, expertise, and selflessness are integral to our emergency response capability across the State.
Over the past year, volunteers from all services have answered the call – fighting fires, responding to floods, conducting searches and rescues, engaging in community education and most of all saving lives. They are often the first to respond and the last to leave, supporting our communities in some of the most challenging circumstances.
National Volunteer Week offers us all a chance to pause and express our gratitude. While many volunteers expect no recognition, it is important that we celebrate their service and the deep connections they foster in our communities.
As a tribute, fire and emergency services volunteers will be featured on the Yagan Square digital tower, a public celebration of their service that will appear at various times during the week. Keep an eye out and join us in honouring those who give so much to keep our communities safe.
Volunteer promotional recruitment resources
The promotional items available in the Recruitment Toolbox are provided for your volunteer recruitment activities. National Volunteer Week is an excellent opportunity to promote vacancies at your brigade, group or unit.
Contact your Volunteer Management Support Officer at your DFES Regional Office to talk about how to use these tools. Find their contact details in the Support section of the Volunteer Hub.
Read more in General Circular 68/2025: National Volunteer Week 2025 Connecting Communities.
Strategic Volunteer and Youth Programs Team
Our role is to work with volunteers and staff to design and deliver resources and programs that support volunteers and young people to get the most out of their volunteering with emergency services.
Our work is guided by the Volunteer Sustainability Strategy. All work is linked to the objectives, strategies, focus areas and 81 actions identified within the strategy. We are currently in the second year of the strategy which finishes in 2026.
For more information please visit our section in the Volunteer Hub.
