These everyday heroes don’t just help our shelter animals directly: they also raise funds, run annual events, and support our outreach and education programs. Simply put, without their help, our impact simply wouldn’t be the same.
Every year, we celebrate the work of our remarkable volunteers by recognising the efforts of a single individual. They go above and beyond to improve the lives of animals in need, embodying the compassion and love for animals we aim to nurture every day.
Denysse Jarvis-Carter from our Broken Hill supporter group was awarded RSPCA NSW Volunteer of the Year for 2026 after more than three decades of giving back.
For 36 years, Denysse has been a dedicated and highly valued volunteer with RSPCA NSW and the Broken Hill Supporter Group.
She has contributed to almost every aspect of the group’s operations, including serving as President and now treasurer to the Supporter Group. Her reliability, strong work ethic and attention to detail help ensure the group’s finances and reporting are managed with accuracy.
Denysse is also a driving force behind many fundraising events, including market stalls, annual raffles, the Silver City Show, Christmas Fair and Million Paws Walk.
As part of a small but dedicated team, she generously gives her time to support the long-term success of the supporter group and RSPCA Broken Hill Veterinary Hospital.
“It was nice, but I don’t look for anything for what I do. I’ve been volunteering since I was 15. It’s just something you do. It’s really satisfying to give back to the community and to the animals.” Denysse said.
In 2025, RSPCA NSW awarded Ann Dewson with Volunteer of the Year.
Ann has dedicated an extraordinary 48 years to RSPCA NSW, making her our longest-serving volunteer. As the powerhouse behind the Illawarra Branch, Ann’s leadership has driven incredible fundraising efforts — from Bunnings BBQs and market stalls to one of the state’s largest Million Paws Walks — raising over $20,000 each year to support specialised surgeries and the shelter.
More than just a fundraiser, Ann is a community builder, a generous leader, a mentor, and a proud life member. Her compassion and commitment have left a lasting legacy not just in Illawarra, but across the entire state.
In 2024, RSPCA NSW awarded Reba Cawthorne with the Volunteer of the Year Award, recognising the 15 years she has spent supporting our Hunter Shelter as both a devoted foster carer and a hands-on shelter attendant.
As a feline enthusiast, Reba has fostered more than 200 cats. She is widely known around the shelter for her kind and gentle nature, always happy to guide and mentor newer staff and volunteers.
Reba consistently goes above and beyond, embodying the spirit of service, generosity, and compassion. Her love for our shelter, her foster animals, and our animal-loving community is inspiring and incontestable, and represents her drive to make a difference in the lives of people and animals alike.
RSPCA NSW rehomes a range of different animals, from dogs, cats, and birds to horses, rabbits, and sheep! We believe that all creatures, great and small, can bring joy to our families and homes. Begin your adoption journey today and make an adorable lifelong friend!
By providing temporary homes for our animals, we can ensure they get the care they need until they are ready to be adopted. Join our network of foster carers for an incredibly rewarding experience; with your help, we can change the lives of some of the state’s most vulnerable animals.
We rely on our generous supporters to continue assisting the thousands of animals turning to RSPCA NSW for help. No matter how small your contribution, every gift makes a lifesaving difference for animals in need.
By raising funds and lending a hand to communities and their pets, our volunteers play a pivotal role in our work throughout NSW. If you have a genuine concern for animals and enjoy meeting like-minded people, consider becoming an RSPCA NSW volunteer today!
Volunteers are at the heart of what RSPCA NSW does. Year after year, these generous individuals spend thousands of hours helping people and pets, providing love and care at our facilities, raising awareness in their local communities, and assisting in various roles across numerous departments.
Every volunteer plays a crucial role in our success. Simply put, our impact wouldn’t be the same without our network of volunteers.
Consider the many volunteering opportunities on offer at RSPCA NSW. With your assistance, we can change the lives of the people and animals seeking support.
You must be at least 16 years old to sign up as a volunteer. However, some roles have specific requirements or involve tasks that require a volunteer to be at least 18 years old. If this is the case, the required age will be noted in the volunteer role description.
If you aren’t old enough just yet, don’t lose hope! You can still get involved with animal welfare through education programs like our Youth and Animal Program and our School Holiday Program.
If you are unable to visit our shelters or assist at our events, there are still so many ways you can help us protect and care for animals.
If volunteering from home is more your style, we support volunteers looking for flexibility while receiving training and ongoing support. Make a difference from your own space as a volunteer at home!
If you’d like to open your heart to an adorable animal companion, we can help you find your new best friend at one of our shelters and adoption centres. RSPCA NSW rehomes a range of adorable animals, including cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, and more! We can help you find a forever friend at any one of our facilities. You can also adopt some of our animals through our partnership with Petbarn.
Becoming a foster carer is another rewarding way to help our animals. If you’re unsure about adopting but looking to personally assist our animals, become a foster carer to help give our animals the love and attention they deserve!
If you are unsure about adopting or becoming a foster carer, you can still donate to provide essential care to animals seeking their forever home. As a charity, we rely on a generous network of donors and supporters to provide any training, treatment, supplies, and rehabilitation our animals may require. Your contribution, no matter how small, can provide our animals with ongoing support, giving them a better chance at enjoying a good quality of life.
RSPCA NSW facilitates a range of corporate experiences, from corporate donations and Workplace Giving to conferences and events. If you and your colleagues would like the chance to assist our shelter animals, our Corporate Support Days provide the perfect opportunity to volunteer with us.
