Habitat for Humanity Australia Annual Awards
Volunteers are at the heart of Habitat for Humanity Australia. As a people-powered organisation, our impact is made possible by the individuals and organisations who generously give their time, skills and passion to help build homes, communities and hope.
The Habitat for Humanity Australia Awards celebrate those exceptional volunteers and organisations who go above and beyond, embodying our values of humility, courage, accountability and kindness while inspiring action and creating lasting change.
Award categories
The Habitat for Humanity Australia Awards recognise the outstanding individuals, partners and community organisations who help drive our mission forward. Award categories include:
Corporate Partner Award
Corporate Volunteer Award
Community Impact Award
Volunteer of the Year Award
Young Volunteer of the Year Award
Lifetime Achievement Award
Meet our 2026 winners
Turner & Townsend
Turner & Townsend have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to Habitat for Humanity Australia’s Brush with Kindness program. Since our partnership began in 2023, 145 Turner & Townsend employees have volunteered across 24 Brush with Kindness days, contributing approximately $100,000 to the program.
Their team across Australia have consistently stepped forward to volunteer, bringing enthusiasm and a genuine willingness to contribute. Together, they have supported projects at Aboriginal Women & Children’s Crisis Service, Phoebe House, Youth Options Housing and St Vincent de Paul.
Their commitment extends beyond volunteering, with Turner & Townsend employees raising funds internally, supported by corporate matching, contributing more than $50,000 to Habitat for Humanity Australia.
James Hardie
James Hardie Australia is a standout corporate partner whose commitment extends far beyond financial support. Since 2024, James Hardie has embedded Habitat for Humanity Australia into its employee engagement, community impact, marketing and industry leadership activities.
Through a combination of fundraising, volunteering, in-kind product donations, advocacy and awareness raising, the partnership has delivered significant social impact, strengthened communities and helped advance pathways into construction for women and young people.
Their commitment is strategic, authentic and deeply aligned with Habitat's mission of building strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. James Hardie have raised over $285,000 for Habitat for Australian programs.
They have also provided $200,000 RRP in-kind product donations including for a South Australian home, Haymarket & Penrith projects, and Habitat Women training programs, reducing build costs and helping more families access safe, decent and affordable housing.
James Hardie have also contributed to 24 Brush With Kindness volunteer days with 191 staff volunteering across NSW, VIC and QLD
Communities for Communities
Communities for Communities (C4C) has partnered with HFHA since 2005, through over $1.4m of funding for International Programs across the Asia and Pacific regions, most recently supporting projects in Cambodia and participating in 1-2 GV builds each year.
By the end of June 2027, C4C will have supported over 15,250 beneficiaries through funding and volunteer hours. C4C has also mobilised their community to participate in two Brush with Kindness days in 2024 and 2025.
Bronwyn Peyton
Bronwyn exemplifies the spirit of Habitat for Humanity through her exceptional commitment, leadership and ability to inspire others to take action. Over the years, she has contributed extensively across Global Village, Brush with Kindness and Bushfire Resilience programs, while also providing a significant contribution in donations as a long-term monthly supporter.
Beyond her own volunteering, Bronwyn has made an extraordinary impact through volunteer recruitment and fundraising, bringing together teams for builds in Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal and helping raise tens of thousands of dollars through creative community events.
Lucy Rygoschek & Ruby Radics
Lucy and Ruby are deserving recipients of Young Volunteer of the Year for their outstanding contribution to ReStore Kilsyth. Volunteering 92 hours across 23 days, the pair used their creativity, energy and social media expertise to significantly increase awareness of ReStore through engaging content across TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Their videos showcased Habitat's mission, promoted stock and volunteer opportunities, and generated impressive results, including a Facebook post that reached more than 68,500 people.
Beyond growing community awareness and driving volunteer enquiries, Lucy and Ruby brought enthusiasm, kindness and positivity to every interaction, inspiring both staff and volunteers.
By generously contributing their talent and time to support Habitat's work, they have become exceptional ambassadors for the next generation of volunteers.
Habitat for Humanity Australia
Annual Awards Honour Board
We are so grateful for all our wonderful volunteers and supporters who work alongside us. We believe in a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live, and we’re fortunate to work with many others who share in this vision.
In particular, we’d like to acknowledge the below individuals and corporates for their contributions.
Lifetime Achievement
2025 – Louise Hay (SA)
2025 – Atul Kumar
2024 – Greg Keith
2024 – Duncan West (HFHA)
2024 – Philip Curtis (VIC)
2023 – Ross Kemp (VIC)
2023 – Tony Bryer (VIC)
2021 – Chris Franks (HFHA)
Life Membership
2021 – Chris Franks
2018 – Natalie Fuller (SA)
2016 – Paul Mulroney
– Vera Randall
– Alan O’Connor
– Howard Fearn Wannan
Meritorius Achievement
2021 – Chris Greiner (HFHA)
2021 – Brian Tasker (HFHA)
2021 – Paul Madden (SA)
2020 – Anne Fussell (HFHA)
2019 – Robert McLauchlan (VIC)
2017 – Graeme Sinclair (VIC)
2017 – James Allardice (NSW)
Volunteer of the Year
2025 – Peter Handel
2024 – Mary Zahariou
2023 – Greg & Jan McKean
2018 – Anne Fussell
2018 – Jimmy Grant
Young Volunteer of the Year
2024 – Zoe Kasinathan
2023 – Lavinia Song
Corporate Volunteer
2025 – Grant Thornton
2024 – Turner & Townsend
2023 – Morgans
2018 – Grant Thornton