Volunteering
Volunteering is the lifeblood of our community in the Shire of Denmark.
2021 ABS Census data shows that 29.4% of the resident population in Denmark volunteers within their community, more than regional Western Australia (19.3%) and the rest of the state (15.9%).
On this page:
Emergency Services Volunteering
There are many and varied volunteering roles available in Emergency Services within the Shire of Denmark. These include:
- Bushfire Brigades
- State Emergency Service (SES)
- Fire and Rescue
- Marine Rescue
- St John Ambulance
- Bushfire Ready
Important links and contact information for these vital volunteering organisations is available below.
Bushfire Brigades
There are many roles that can be undertaken in a bushfire brigade from active firefighting, radio operations, community safety and incident support, with training and personal protective equipment provided.
For more information on how to volunteer with your local bushfire brigade, please contact your local Fire Control Officer or the Shire of Denmark Community Emergency Services Manager (CESM) on (08) 9848 0339 or email enquiries@denmark.wa.gov.au.
State Emergency Service
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) oversees a volunteer State Emergency Service that operates in Denmark and can provide assistance for storm damage, land search rescue, flood damage and general rescue.
People wanting to join the SES can attend a monthly training session which is held at 7pm, on the first Tuesday of the month at the unit building located on Zimmerman Street or by contacting the DFES, Albany Regional Office on 9845 5000.
Fire and Rescue
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) oversees a Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service in Denmark that is equipped with two appliances to attend structural fires, HAZMAT incidents, Motor vehicle accidents and assist the Shire’s bushfire brigades in controlling bushfires.
People wanting to join the volunteer Fire and Rescue Service can attend a monthly training session which is held at 6pm; on the first Monday night of the month (except on public holidays) at the fire station on Horsley Road or contact the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Albany Regional office on 9845 5000.
Marine Rescue
The Denmark Volunteer Marine Rescue Group is overseen by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and is run by local volunteers.
Anyone with an interest in volunteering can attend the monthly meeting at 7pm on the first Thursday of each month at Denmark Boating & Angling Club, Ocean Beach or call Derek Stone on 9848 2398 / 0433 651 085 to enquire.
St John Ambulance
St John Ambulance performs a critical function in our community to keep our residents and visitors looked after. For more information about volunteering with St John Ambulance in Denmark, contact them at 9848 1090.
Bushfire Ready
Bushfire Ready is a community-led initiative with support from the Shire of Denmark and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) to help community members be prepared for bushfire season.
Join your local group or find out more by contacting led Bushfire Ready facilitator at fireready@denmark.wa.gov.au
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Local Sports Clubs
The Shire of Denmark has a dedicated Club Development Officer to assist local clubs with accessing support and information about development and funding opportunities.
Visit our Sporting Clubs Corner for more information, or pop by the Denmark Recreation Centre on Brazier St, Denmark, to make an appointment.
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Community Volunteering
There is an incredible range of volunteering opportunities in the Shire of Denmark from community safety, to arts, historical and environmental organisations, plus many, many others besides.
For more information about what's on and available within the Shire of Denmark, you can check out any or all of the following options:
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Thank a Volunteer
Every year in May, the Shire of Denmark celebrates National Volunteering Week, during which an event is held locally to show the due appreciation we all have for those who volunteer in our community.
During the annual Thank a Volunteer event in Denmark, the awards for Community Citizen of the Year are announced.
For more information about volunteer appreciation in Denmark, please contact the Shire of Denmark Community Development Officer on 9840 0300 or enquiries@denmark.wa.gov.au.
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Community Citizen of the Year Awards
The Citizen of the Year Awards is a Shire of Denmark program that recognises and awards individuals and groups who go above and beyond their civic duties to contribute to the Denmark community in a constructive and positive way. The award publicly recognises the notable contributions of individuals and groups during the current year, and/or to those who have given outstanding service over several years across four categories of Community, Youth, Senior, and Group.
In this section:
- Key Dates
- Eligibility
- Selection Criteria
- Nominate a Community Member or Group for an Award
Key Dates
Nominations usually open in March with the winners announced in May at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Function.
Coming soon: Details for the 2024 nominations and event will be published here soon.
Eligibility
A person must first be nominated to be considered for the awards. Self-nominations are not accepted.
Nominees can be nominated across four categories;
- Citizen of the Year (Community) – a person of any age
- Citizen of the Year (Senior) – a person over the age of 65
- Citizen of the Year (Youth) – a person aged between 12 to 24 years; and
- Citizen of the Year (Group) - a local community group or not-for-profit organisation based within the Shire of Denmark
Selection Criteria
The nomination must demonstrate that the person(s) or group(s) citizenship activities occurred within the Shire of Denmark.
External activities that benefitted the Denmark community may be taken into consideration during the selection process.
Nominations will be assessed for an individual or group who has:
- made a significant voluntary contribution to the Denmark community
- demonstrated leadership on a community issue resulting in the enhancement of community life
- undertaken a significant initiative that has brought about positive change and added value to community life
- invested time and effort above the standard expected of any citizen (hours of time volunteered, range of tasks undertaken, and length of service) and is a good role model for the community
Read the guidelines for full eligibility and selection criteria.
Nominate a Community Member or Group for an Award
The nomination must be submitted on the official Citizen of the Year Nomination Form available below.
You will need to download and save a copy of the form. Once completed, the form can be submitted by:
- Email: enquiries@denmark.wa.gov.au
- In person: 953 South Coast Highway, Denmark WA 6333
- Post: Shire of Denmark, PO Box 183 Denmark WA 6333