Surf lifesaving. Emergency services cadets. Environmental conservation. Aged care support. Food relief. Sports coaching. Student leadership.

This is just a snapshot of what nineteen Pearce students are already giving their time to, on top of school. On Monday, I got to celebrate and recognise their achievements, and it filled me with great pride to see young people like this coming through our local schools.

The Pearce Student Volunteer Award recognises the extent of their contributions to our community, often in ways most of us never see. That, to me, is Community First in action. It's not just something I say. It's something I saw in a room full of teenagers who give up their own time, week after week, for people they might never even meet.

I want to thank the Hon Jason Clare MP, Federal Minister for Education, for taking the time to present these awards in person, and Mark Folkard MLA, State Member for Mindarie, who MC'd the event. I'd also like to thank Steve Faulkner, a long-serving Pearce volunteer with decades of service in the SES, Youth in Emergency Services Cadets and Marine Rescue, who spoke about what volunteering can mean over the course of a lifetime. It felt fitting, given the students in the room were only just starting out on that same path.

Thank you also to Mindarie Senior College for hosting us so generously. Having spent many years as part of the Mindarie Senior College community, including 13 as Chair of the College Board, moments like this one mean a great deal to me.

Congratulations to all nineteen students, and thank you for showing us what volunteering in your community looks like.

Alkimos College

Harry - has spent years representing students across WA, first as a Student Council Councillor and then as Chairperson. He worked alongside 25 student representatives from across the state to push for better education policy and helped lead the inaugural WA Student Council Annual Considerations Report. A former House Captain, Harry has managed all of this while keeping up strong grades.

Juliette - teaches Noongar culture at community events. Alongside that, she's been an active member of the Yanchep Two Rocks Youth in Emergency Services Cadets since 2022, rising to Cadet Unit Leader. She helps run fire safety education sessions, mentors younger cadets, and supports big community days like ANZAC Day and Australia Day. She's also applied to join the Two Rocks Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade and has twice been nominated for Cadet of the Year, in addition to winning the 2026 Youth Citizen Award for Yanchep and Two Rocks.

Butler College

Samuel - crews inflatable rescue boats and uses his drone licence to support search and rescue. He's also an active member of the Quinns and Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Clubs, helping with beach patrols, and has supported major events like the Mullaloo Mile and the City of Joondalup Triathlon.

Chiara - has volunteered with Woodside Nippers since 2021. She now mentors younger members as a Nipper Age Manager, works as a First Aid Officer, and races with the IRB Racing Team. In a single season, she clocked over 100 patrol hours, plus extra time most Sundays helping the youngest members find their feet in the water.

Keir - has been part of the Quinns Mindarie Surf Life Saving Club for more than ten years, starting out as a Nipper himself and working his way up to Age Manager. He's a reliable face at every rostered patrol, has competed at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, and also serves as Butler College's School Captain.

Sophia - has spent five years with the Bushrangers, a local environmental group, taking part in beach clean-ups, tree planting and habitat restoration. She also volunteers at Yanchep National Park, helping care for native wildlife, and is currently studying a Certificate II in Community Services to keep building on that work.

Marc - volunteers as a photographer and media creator for the Bushrangers, helping raise awareness about conservation. He also provides sound and tech support at community events and teaches others how to do it. Behind the scenes work like his is easy to miss, but it keeps community events running smoothly.

Irene McCormack Catholic College

Tish - the school's College Captain, has thrown herself into student leadership through Young Joeys, St Joseph's Workers, Peer Support and the Student Executive Council. She helped create an inclusive photo wall and common area for Year 12 students, and regularly volunteers at school events and sustainability projects, all while helping build a stronger, more welcoming school culture.

Mindarie Senior College

Hannah - has been chosen as an On-Water Powercraft Operator for the 2026 Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, and will also take on a judging role at the same event, a job most of us would never come across day to day. She's a regular presence on local beach patrols, keeping swimmers safe.

Elisa - spends four to five hours every single Saturday volunteering at the Salvation Army Store in Joondalup, helping people doing it tough and supporting the store's day to day running. She has chosen this over paid work, which says a lot about what matters to her.

Jack - is a Probationary Firefighter with the Quinns Rocks Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, and has also spent years rising through the ranks of Quinns Rocks Youth in Emergency Services Cadets and Training Ship Marmion. He's recently made the jump from cadet to active volunteer firefighter, which takes real courage.

Rylee - coaches several junior T-ball teams at North Coast Breakers Ball Club, helping younger players build skills and confidence, and pitches in wherever needed to keep the club running, from marking diamonds to preparing gear. He was named Clubman of the Year, and also helped organise and cook the Hungi for his school's Diversity Week.

Mika - coaches a Year 5 netball team, helping younger students grow their skills and love the game, all while juggling a full ATAR workload and her own competitive netball.

Alyssa - visits the Yanchep Aged Care Centre twice a month through her local youth group, spending time chatting with residents and keeping them company. For people who might otherwise feel lonely, that kind of visit can mean the world.

Peter Moyes Anglican Community School

Brady - has volunteered in surf lifesaving for years and was selected for the Surf Life Saving Australia Young Leaders Working Group. He helped introduce National Red and Yellow Day at his school, and has been nominated for the 2026 WA Youth Awards.

St James Anglican School

Kent - volunteers every single week at Food4All Yanchep, helping unpack donations, set up food distribution and pack everything away afterwards, all to support local families going through tough times.

Keeley - has completed all three levels of the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and now mentors other students as a Youth Award Leader. She coaches a No Limits disability netball team, runs weekly homework clubs, volunteers with Food4All and the Salvation Army, and even took part in a Cambodia Service Tour working in a village school. She's now Service Captain at St James.

Zoe - volunteers with the school's Foods Team, mentoring younger students and helping Year 11 Hospitality students prepare for assessments. She helps cater school events and prepares food donations and hampers for families in need through Food4All.

Wanneroo Secondary College

Zali - has volunteered with an impressive range of local groups, including the City of Wanneroo, Landsdale Farm, Perth Wildlife Hospital, Little Things for Tiny Tots, Give Write, WA Playgroup and Hocking Primary School. She led the school's Girls Group for three years, encouraging younger students to get involved in volunteering themselves.