The national framework for student volunteering
The SVA Service Award is a nationwide framework supporting Year 7-13 students to record, reflect on, and be recognised for their volunteering and service.
By making volunteering visible and valued, the Service Award builds confidence, strengthens employability, and supports lifelong civic engagement.
The power of equitable recognition:
One of SVA's greatest strengths is creating a level playing field across New Zealand. One volunteer hour equals one volunteer hour, no matter the participating school. Whether a student is at a large urban college or a small rural high school, whether they're engaged in marae-based activities, formal Duke of Edinburgh programmes, or family care — their service is valued equally.
A Record That Belongs to the Student
The Summary of Service is a clear, student-owned record of a young person's volunteering journey. It brings together volunteering hours, causes supported, and roles undertaken into a simple and credible summary that can be used beyond school.
Simple, Structured, Student-Friendly
The Log an Activity form is designed to help students quickly and confidently record their volunteering. In just a few steps, students can document what they did, who they supported, and how many hours they contributed.
The form is intuitive and easy to use, making regular reflection part of the volunteering process rather than an added burden.
This equity means students can:
Transfer their records if they change schools
Be recognised fairly regardless of their school’s resources or location
Build portable Summary of Service records that hold national credibility
Your school defines this
Family Care and Whanau Support
Caring for siblings, supporting elderly relatives, or assisting whanau with complex health needs or disabilities. Approximately 8% of young New Zealanders are young carers — many are within your school community.
School Leadership and Manaakitanga
Prefects, peer support leaders, mentoring rangatahi, event coordination, and other roles that strengthen school culture.
Community Action
Coaching sports teams, conservation projects, charity shops, food banks, and marae-based manaakitanga.
Crisis Response
Disaster recovery, community resilience initiatives, and emergency support efforts.
Together, these pillars create a national culture of service where helping others is natural, expected, and supported.
How can our school register?
The SVA Service Award is completely free of charge but can only be awarded to students by a participating New Zealand secondary school. The school's role is to award pins and celebrate student success and contribution to community.
There is little or no staff admin required as students register themselves online and then return to log volunteering hours over their secondary school career. To register, a school must nominate a key staff contact who is happy to receive notifications and award pins as students achieve a new volunteering milestone.
Partnership options available for international and Australian schools interested in operating the SVA Service Award in their school.