Develops and empowers individuals to be meaningful volunteers.

‘Kia tuao, e tu ki te ao’ – ‘Be a volunteer and stand up in the world’

The SVA Service Award is a nationwide framework that recognises volunteering efforts of Year 7-13 students.

Available free to groups or individuals, students are awarded a pin for initial volunteering hours and log additional efforts on the SVA App or online. School, community and in-home volunteering hours all qualify and are combined into a single record of service.

The SVA platform gives teachers access to student records. The Teams feature allows for students to be grouped via house, year level, classroom or club. Students can be nominated as Team Leaders and organise volunteering activities.

The SVA Story

On September 4th 2010, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Canterbury, New Zealand, causing widespread damage - particularly in the city of Ōtautahi Christchurch. In the wake of the disaster, 11,000 students mobilised to help with the clean-up - coordinated by SVA founder, Sam Johnson.

This was the beginning of the Student Volunteer Army.

Today, SVA is a network of tens of thousands of volunteers driven by a desire to help their communities. SVA programmes at primary, secondary and tertiary education levels empower youth through volunteering; cultivate a lasting culture of service; and build resilient, connected communities.

Together, SVA show up for the big events. SVA have evolved to become leaders of second wave crisis response, helping communities recover after disaster. Over the past decade, SVA volunteers have supported clean-up and recovery after eight national crisis events - from collecting and delivering groceries during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 to operating major clean-up operations after the Auckland Anniversary weekend floods, closely followed by Cyclone Gabrielle, in 2023.

Without hesitation

SVA celebrate the power of self-belief and teamwork.

The most powerful thing anyone can do in the face of crisis or need is to respond in ways that people acting on their own could never achieve.

SVA inspires to develop individual capability and being prepared to respond in times of need for the community.

ACG Tauranga AGE School Al-Madinah School Albany Senior High School Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Aotea College Aparima College Ashburton Christian School Ashburton College Auckland Grammar School Auckland Seventh-Day Adventist H S Avonside Girls' High School Awatapu College Bay of Islands College Bayfield High School Bethlehem College Botany Downs Secondary College Buller High School Burnside High School Cambridge High School Campion College Carmel College Cashmere High School Catholic Cathedral College Central Southland College Chanel College Chilton Saint James School Christ's College Christchurch Boys' High School Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora Collingwood Area School Columba College Cornerstone Christian School Craighead Diocesan School Cromwell College Cullinane College Dargaville High School De La Salle College Diocesan School For Girls Dunstan High School East Otago High School Edgecumbe College Edgewater College Ellesmere College Epsom Girls Grammar School Feilding High School Feilding Intermediate Fergusson Intermediate (Trentham) Fiordland College Forest View High School Francis Douglas Memorial College Garin College Geraldine High School Gisborne Girls' High School Glendowie College Glenfield College Green Bay High School Greymouth High School Hamilton Christian School Hamilton Girls' High School Hastings Boys' High School Hastings Girls' High School Hauraki Plains College Havelock North High School Henderson High School Heretaunga College Hillcrest High School Hillmorton High School Hobsonville Point Secondary School Horizon School Horowhenua College Howick College Huanui College Hurunui College Hutt International Boys' School Hutt Valley High School Iona College James Cook High School James Hargest College John Paul College John Paul II High School Kaikorai Valley College Kaikōura High School Kaipara College Kāpiti College Karamū High School Kelston Boys' High School Kelston Girls' College King's College Kings High School (Dunedin) KingsGate School KingsWay School Kuranui College Lincoln High School Logan Park High School Long Bay College Mackenzie College Macleans College Mairehau High School Mangakōtukutuku College Manurewa High School Marian College Māruawai College Massey High School Matamata College Menzies College Mercury Bay Area School Middleton Grange School Mission Heights Junior College Morrinsville College Motueka High School Mount Maunganui College Mountainview High School Mt Roskill Grammar Murrays Bay Intermediate Napier Girls' High School Nayland College Nelson College Nelson College For Girls Nelson Intermediate New Plymouth Girls' High School Nga Tawa Diocesan School Ngaruawahia High School Northcote College Northland College One Tree Hill College Onehunga High School Onewhero Area School Onslow College Opihi College Ōpunake High School Ormiston Junior College Ormiston Senior College Otago Boys' High School Otago Girls' High School Otaki College Ōtūmoetai College Paeroa College Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North Girls' High School Papamoa College Papanui High School Papatoetoe High School Paraparaumu College Pasadena Intermediate Pompallier Catholic College Ponatahi Christian School Pukekohe High School Putāruru College Queen Margaret College Queens High School Rangi Ruru Girls' School Rangiora High School Rangiora New Life School Rangitīkei College Rangitoto College Rathkeale College Riccarton High School Rolleston College Roncalli College Rongotai College Rosehill College Rosmini College Ross Intermediate Rotorua Lakes High School Rototuna Junior High School Rototuna Senior High School Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham) Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) Salisbury School (Nelson) Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Sancta Maria College Scots College Shirley Boys’ High School - Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa South Westland Area School Southern Cross Campus Southern Health School Southland Boys' High School Southland Girls' High School Springbank School St Andrew's College (Christchurch) St Cuthbert's College (Epsom) St Dominic's Catholic College (Henderson) St Hildas Collegiate St John's College (Hillcrest) St Kevins College (Oamaru) St Margaret's College St Mary's College (Wellington) St Peter's College (Gore) St Peter's School (Cambridge) Stratford High School Taikura Rudolf Steiner School Takapuna Grammar School Tamaki College Tamatea High School Tapawera Area School Taradale High School Tarawera High School Tauranga Girls' College Tawa College Tawa Intermediate Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Central North) Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Central South) Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Northern) Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Southern) Te Aroha College Te Kamo High School Te Kura a rohe o Waiau Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta Wananga Te Puke High School Thames High School Tikipunga High School Timaru Boys' High School Timaru Girls' High School TKKM o Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu Tokoroa High School Trident High School Trinity Catholic College Tuakau College Verdon College Villa Maria College Waiheke High School Waihi College Waikato Diocesan School For Girls Waimate High School Waimea College Waimea Intermediate Waiopehu College Wairarapa College Wairoa College Waitaki Girls' High School Wakatipu High School Wellington College Wellington East Girls' College Wellington Girls' College Western Heights High School Westlake Boys High School Westlake Girls' High School Westland High School Whakatane High School Whanganui Girls' College Whanganui High School Whangaparaoa College Whangārei Boys' High School Whangārei Girls’ High School Whitby Collegiate Woodford House Zayed College for Girls

ACG Tauranga AGE School Al-Madinah School Albany Senior High School Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery Aotea College Aparima College Ashburton Christian School Ashburton College Auckland Grammar School Auckland Seventh-Day Adventist H S Avonside Girls' High School Awatapu College Bay of Islands College Bayfield High School Bethlehem College Botany Downs Secondary College Buller High School Burnside High School Cambridge High School Campion College Carmel College Cashmere High School Catholic Cathedral College Central Southland College Chanel College Chilton Saint James School Christ's College Christchurch Boys' High School Christchurch Girls' High School -Te Kura o Hine Waiora Collingwood Area School Columba College Cornerstone Christian School Craighead Diocesan School Cromwell College Cullinane College Dargaville High School De La Salle College Diocesan School For Girls Dunstan High School East Otago High School Edgecumbe College Edgewater College Ellesmere College Epsom Girls Grammar School Feilding High School Feilding Intermediate Fergusson Intermediate (Trentham) Fiordland College Forest View High School Francis Douglas Memorial College Garin College Geraldine High School Gisborne Girls' High School Glendowie College Glenfield College Green Bay High School Greymouth High School Hamilton Christian School Hamilton Girls' High School Hastings Boys' High School Hastings Girls' High School Hauraki Plains College Havelock North High School Henderson High School Heretaunga College Hillcrest High School Hillmorton High School Hobsonville Point Secondary School Horizon School Horowhenua College Howick College Huanui College Hurunui College Hutt International Boys' School Hutt Valley High School Iona College James Cook High School James Hargest College John Paul College John Paul II High School Kaikorai Valley College Kaikōura High School Kaipara College Kāpiti College Karamū High School Kelston Boys' High School Kelston Girls' College King's College Kings High School (Dunedin) KingsGate School KingsWay School Kuranui College Lincoln High School Logan Park High School Long Bay College Mackenzie College Macleans College Mairehau High School Mangakōtukutuku College Manurewa High School Marian College Māruawai College Massey High School Matamata College Menzies College Mercury Bay Area School Middleton Grange School Mission Heights Junior College Morrinsville College Motueka High School Mount Maunganui College Mountainview High School Mt Roskill Grammar Murrays Bay Intermediate Napier Girls' High School Nayland College Nelson College Nelson College For Girls Nelson Intermediate New Plymouth Girls' High School Nga Tawa Diocesan School Ngaruawahia High School Northcote College Northland College One Tree Hill College Onehunga High School Onewhero Area School Onslow College Opihi College Ōpunake High School Ormiston Junior College Ormiston Senior College Otago Boys' High School Otago Girls' High School Otaki College Ōtūmoetai College Paeroa College Palmerston North Boys' High School Palmerston North Girls' High School Papamoa College Papanui High School Papatoetoe High School Paraparaumu College Pasadena Intermediate Pompallier Catholic College Ponatahi Christian School Pukekohe High School Putāruru College Queen Margaret College Queens High School Rangi Ruru Girls' School Rangiora High School Rangiora New Life School Rangitīkei College Rangitoto College Rathkeale College Riccarton High School Rolleston College Roncalli College Rongotai College Rosehill College Rosmini College Ross Intermediate Rotorua Lakes High School Rototuna Junior High School Rototuna Senior High School Sacred Heart College (Lower Hutt) Sacred Heart Girls' College (Ham) Sacred Heart Girls' College (N Plymouth) Salisbury School (Nelson) Samuel Marsden Collegiate School Sancta Maria College Scots College Shirley Boys’ High School - Ngā Tama o Ōruapaeroa South Westland Area School Southern Cross Campus Southern Health School Southland Boys' High School Southland Girls' High School Springbank School St Andrew's College (Christchurch) St Cuthbert's College (Epsom) St Dominic's Catholic College (Henderson) St Hildas Collegiate St John's College (Hillcrest) St Kevins College (Oamaru) St Margaret's College St Mary's College (Wellington) St Peter's College (Gore) St Peter's School (Cambridge) Stratford High School Taikura Rudolf Steiner School Takapuna Grammar School Tamaki College Tamatea High School Tapawera Area School Taradale High School Tarawera High School Tauranga Girls' College Tawa College Tawa Intermediate Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Central North) Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Central South) Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Northern) Te Aho O Te Kura Pounamu (Southern) Te Aroha College Te Kamo High School Te Kura a rohe o Waiau Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Horouta Wananga Te Puke High School Thames High School Tikipunga High School Timaru Boys' High School Timaru Girls' High School TKKM o Te Wananga Whare Tapere o Takitimu Tokoroa High School Trident High School Trinity Catholic College Tuakau College Verdon College Villa Maria College Waiheke High School Waihi College Waikato Diocesan School For Girls Waimate High School Waimea College Waimea Intermediate Waiopehu College Wairarapa College Wairoa College Waitaki Girls' High School Wakatipu High School Wellington College Wellington East Girls' College Wellington Girls' College Western Heights High School Westlake Boys High School Westlake Girls' High School Westland High School Whakatane High School Whanganui Girls' College Whanganui High School Whangaparaoa College Whangārei Boys' High School Whangārei Girls’ High School Whitby Collegiate Woodford House Zayed College for Girls

  • Does your school currently conduct structured volunteering programmes?

  • Would you like your prefects to be acknowledged at a national level for the hours of service they give to the school?

  • Do you have students whose contribution to school life perhaps goes unrecognised?

  • Do you have students who provide unpaid care for whānau and can’t participate in extra-curricular activities but need a CV profile?

Change the world in front of you ...Together

How it works

  1. We discuss activities at your school that might qualify students for service award hours.

  2. Your school chooses to register as an SVA Service Award School.

  3. We send you an initial supply of membership pins.

  4. Students sign up to the SVA platform and self manage logging their hours through the app or website.

  5. Teachers involved are invited to a free online community with resources, updates and support.

  6. We notify you regarding any student whose logged hours qualify them for the next level of pin.

  7. You receive a monthly pin send out to distribute to students who have earned them.

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.

Interested in registering your school?

Creating the next generation of community.

  • Volunteering hours on the SVA App or at volunteer.sva.org.nz

  • SVA Service Pins for hours of volunteer time logged. Pins include member, bronze, silver, gold and top volunteer. Top volunteer is the most hours logged at your school for that volunteering year. There is also a nationally recognised top volunteer.

  • A Service Record

  • In applications (for jobs, university, tech, apprenticeships and scholarships).

  • SVA Ambassadors are leaders of the Service Award in their school community, selected based on their outstanding performance in the programme.

  • A PDF Summary of Service Record is available for free download at any time to any student who has registered their hours at volunteer.sva.org.nz.

Five level pin system

Harnessing the collective energy and individual adaptiveness of young people.

SVA Values

    • Be a better person

    • Become a better team

    • Never stop

    • Be humble

    • Be hungry to learn

    • Care for others

    • Care for yourself

    • Share the aroha

    • Choose to give

    • What you (we) do matters

    • Serve selflessly

    • Improve the future at an inspiring scale

    • Ignite positive change

    • Work together

    • Elevate others

SVA Behaviours

    • Put your hand up first

    • Respond to the call to help

    • We engage with those around us

    • We focus as a team on what’s required

    • We purposefully forge genuine connections

    • We bring compassion and empathy to every situation

    • We elevate others

    • We arrive ready to throw our energy into improving each situation

    • We embody a culture of unwavering support

    • We do the mahi

The SVA Foundation | Te Hunga Tūao

SVA enables individuals to find a passion for caring, become self-sufficient and make a difference to others. SVA teaches collaboration, coordination and communication in the midst of challenge and pressure. SVA changes how society sees the emerging generations.

SVA invites young people to develop their capabilities as leaders of the future.

SVA exist to make that difference in communities.

Want to discuss how SVA Service Award may work in your school?