Volunteer Inspire Awards
Celebrating five exceptional individuals each year who go above and beyond to live our values and make a lasting difference.
Recognising our volunteers
The Volunteer Inspire Awards celebrate the remarkable contributions of volunteers in our Wish Force who embody our values and leave a lasting impact on wish families and our community.
Each award reflects one of our core values in action - Child Focus, Integrity, Impact, Innovation and Community. The Impact Award is named in honour of Aidan McCann, a former wish child, volunteer, and wish ambassador, whose incredible spirit and contribution continue to inspire us all.
This year’s winners will be announced in October 2025.
Inspire Awards categories
From 2025, the Inspire Awards honour five outstanding volunteers who bring our core values to life in the following ways:
- Child Focus Award – always placing wish children first and consistently prioritising their needs
- Integrity Award – making ethical decisions, even under pressure
- Impact Award, in honour of Aidan McCann – demonstrating a deep commitment to creating meaningful change
- Innovation Award – embracing creativity and forward-thinking approaches
- Community Award – fostering connection, inclusion, and shared purpose
All volunteers are eligible to be nominated for an Inspire Award. Winners are selected by the Volunteer Representative Council (VRC) and elected volunteer board directors.
Aidan's legacy
From 2007, the exceptional contributions of our volunteers were recognised through the Aidan McCann Hall of Fame Award.
This award was a tribute to the inspiring spirit of Aidan McCann, a 2004 wish recipient who later became a dedicated volunteer and young ambassador for Make-A-Wish.
Aidan's unwavering passion and commitment left a lasting legacy before his passing in 2006. Today, his legacy lives on through the Inspire Awards.
Learn about some of our past Aidan McCann Hall of Fame Award winners below.
Hall of Fame Legends
With a doctoral thesis on how to motivate volunteers, helping others is what Rambo is all about. As a volunteer at our Perth Branch since 1999, Rambo has positively impacted the lives of more wish children, families and volunteers than we can count - spreading good vibes everywhere he goes.
With more than 18 years as a Make-A-Wish volunteer, our National Patron Robyn Moore lives and breathes our values. In 2015, she was recognised by her peers for going 'above and beyond' to inspire volunteers, office staff and the wider community alike! Find out more about Robyn and her Make-A-Wish ambassador role here.
Paul and Lyn's long involvement with our cause began when, as parents to critically ill children Emma and Brett, they experienced the power of a wish themselves. Emma and Brett sadly passed away, but Paul and Lyn's support continued in their honour, making the wishes of other children with life-threatening illnesses come true. Their selflessness and dedication is truly awe-inspiring.
Frank was a founding member of the Adelaide Branch, with a 23 year tenure at the time of this Award. He'd held numerous branch leadership positions over that time, and was a positive role model across our organisation, even representing volunteers on the Board. Even on holidays, Frank was known to fundraise for Make-A-Wish, with an enthusiasm that never wanes. As his nominator mentioned "He never stops, yet always gives his best."
Aidan was a former wish child and Melbourne volunteer, who tragically lost his battle with cystic fibrosis in late 2006.
In 2007, he was honoured with an induction to our Hall of Fame, and our annual Award was also renamed in his memory.
In an emotional speech, our joint 2007 winner Sylvia Rouleston paid tribute to her colleague: "Aidan was a wonderful young man who lived his life to the full, while also giving so that other children's lives could be filled with joy. I feel so privileged to be the first recipient of this award in his name."
As the President of Port Pirie Branch in 2006, Rosa-Lee was recognised for providing strong leadership to the branch, helping it punch above its weight through her passion and commitment. Her many achievements included fostering the creation of two further SA branches (Whyalla and Yorke Peninsula), mentoring other Presidents and volunteers across the state, and co-establishing the first SA volunteer conference.
Thank you volunteers!
To every member of our Wish Force - we thank you. Your dedication, compassion and commitment make wishes possible. The Inspire Awards are just one way we celebrate the incredible difference you make.