Nominations open for 2026 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards recognising community champions

Victoria’s astir dedicated elder volunteers are acceptable to beryllium recognised erstwhile again, with nominations for the 2026 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards opening connected 22 April.

The yearly awards radiance a spotlight connected older Victorians who person made important contributions to their communities, often without recognition. From organising section activities and preserving taste traditions to supporting vulnerable neighbours and tackling κοινωνικά isolation, seniors proceed to play a vital relation successful strengthening assemblage beingness crossed the state.

Among those antecedently recognised is 2025 Council connected the Ageing (COTA) Victorian Senior Achiever Award recipient Nola Radiotis, whose work within Melbourne’s Greek assemblage highlights the interaction of sustained volunteerism.

For much than 15 years, Radiotis has led the Greek Women of the Northern Suburbs “Anemones”, supporting older women to stay socially connected and active. Her work includes organising creation classes and taste gatherings, arsenic well arsenic establishing informal support networks that supply companionship and wellbeing for members.

Nola Radiotis with her 2025 award.

The radical besides regularly visits aged attraction facilities crossed Melbourne, performing traditional Greek dances for residents—an inaugural that has brought some taste transportation and joyousness to older Australians.

Speaking astir the recognition, Radiotis said the grant represents much than a idiosyncratic achievement, describing it arsenic a meaningful acknowledgement of the broader publication seniors marque to society.

The Victorian Senior of the Year Awards purpose not lone to honour individuals, but besides to item the organisations and assemblage networks they support. Increased visibility tin assistance pull caller members and resources, strengthening section initiatives and ensuring their continuity.

Community leaders accidental recognising elder volunteers is indispensable to maintaining strong, inclusive communities, peculiarly arsenic galore proceed to springiness their clip and expertise well into aboriginal life.

With nominations acceptable to unfastened aboriginal this month, Victorians are being encouraged to enactment guardant individuals whose work has made a tangible difference.

Organisers accidental the process offers a elemental but almighty way to admit the often-unseen efforts of volunteers and to observe the values of generosity, committedness and assemblage spirit that underpin Victoria’s κοινωνικά fabric.