WA Volunteers Take out National Award

Two WA Football Volunteer of the Year Winners have been selected as the respective winners in the Toyota AFL National Volunteer Awards.

Yanchep Districts Junior Football Club have been named the 2026 Toyota AFL Community Club of the Year.

The award recognises the outstanding work of a community football club that sets the benchmark for inclusivity, behavioural standards, volunteer and player retention, education and compliance, sustainability, community and innovation.

Yanchep Districts JFC is committed to providing a fun, safe and inclusive environment where every child and family feels welcome.

Some of the initiatives that reflect this commitment include the annual Redhawks Gala Day and Community Fair, Breast Cancer Awareness pink sports day, Mental Health round supported by mental health seminars for you players and parents and involving First Nations families in designing and celebrating NAIDOC round.

The club believes that volunteers are the backbone of the club and actively recruit parents into volunteer roles, provide mentoring and education, and regularly recognise and reward volunteers. This is paired with strong governance, coach education, financial sustainability and player retention and growth.

Yanchep Districts JFC President Jason Brown said it was “most definitely a shock” to win the award.

“This award was most definitely a shock. The club has worked very hard and this award is a reflection of all its members, players, coaches, volunteers and the committee’s hard work,” Brown said.

“It has totally blown us away to be recognised in this way. We are so grateful to whomever nominated us and are so very excited about the award.

“Every member, past and present should be very proud. An amazing club with amazing people.”

For the second year in a row, a WA volunteer has won the AFL Disability Inclusion Ambassador of the Year Award.

David Wright from Kingsway Football Club (pictured above) has volunteered in integrated all abilities football since 2015, both at his club and with the Inclusion Football Academy.

David is a passionate advocate for inclusive football an has played a significant role in creating opportunities for people living with disability to participate.

He has coached integrated all abilities football at Kingsway Junior Football Club and then Kingsway Football Club for eleven years, has been part of the State Coaching Team for the AFL National Inclusion Carnival since its inception in 2015 and has just been announced as the Head coach of the inaugural Women’s Integrated State Team, an initiative he has been spearheading in WA through She Can Play – Female Integrated Football.

Immediately after the announcement which took place at state team training in front of the players, families and supporters, David thanked his Club and WA All Abilities Football for giving him the opportunity to do what he does, and his family for all of their support.

WA Football Volunteer Engagement Specialist Jenne Emberson congratulated WA’s two national winners

“The national volunteer awards are the highest honour for volunteers in football, and I congratulate both David Wright and Yanchep Districts Junior Football Club on this accolade,” she said.

“Both nominations highlight the important role football plays in community, bringing people together and creating opportunities for anyone who wants to play footy, to play footy, and it’s volunteers who make it possible.”

David and a representative from Yanchep Districts JFC will receive an AFL Grand Final experience including flights, accommodation, an official welcome dinner, attendance at the AFL Grand Final Parade, and a ticket to the 2026 Toyota AFL Grand Final.