SVA Service Award logo with five color variants of a circular emblem featuring a stylized SVA initials with three stars above, in blue, brown, gray, yellow, green, and black and white.

‘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.

A circular logo with a dark blue background, featuring three stars at the top, and intertwined light blue lines forming a stylized 'V' and 'X' shape in the center.
SVA Service Award logo with stylized emblem and text.

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.

Young man in a green T-shirt smiling at the camera while holding a wheelbarrow in a backyard, with other people working on gardening or yard work in the background.
A logo with intertwined letters 'S' and 'X' inside a black circle, with three stars above.

Without hesitation

The most powerful thing anyone can do in the face of need or crisis is to show up.

The SVA Service Award aims to develop individual capability and empathy for those in our own communities. In a time of crisis we want Service Award recipients to be prepared to creatively respond to community need.

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

Black circle logo with yellow design, four yellow stars above, and yellow lines forming a stylized symbol in the center.

Change the world in front of you ...together

Could the SVA Service Award work for our school?

  • SVA recognises and elevates that commitment. These students aren't just helping out - they're developing genuine leadership capability through sustained service. The award gives them a formal pathway, national recognition, and connection to something bigger than your school. We help you celebrate their work properly.

  • SVA gives you that system. Students register, log their hours and reflections, and work toward defined milestones - all tracked through a framework we manage. You get visibility of who's engaged, how they're progressing, and where they might need support, without building monitoring systems from scratch.

  • SVA is purpose-built for exactly this. It provides a structured, nationally recognised framework that sits beautifully within a Year 11 programme - giving students clear pathways, sustained engagement over time, and meaningful recognition. We handle the operational side, so you can focus on embedding it into your school's Year 11 vision.

  • SVA captures that invisible service. Students can bring their existing community volunteering into the programme - whether it's sports coaching, cultural leadership, or family support and have it recognised formally. You'll finally see the breadth of service your students are doing, and they'll get the acknowledgment they deserve.

Three young people wearing orange volunteer vests and casual clothing are jumping in front of a colorful mural with flowers and a hummingbird, holding a large white chain link symbol.
A logo featuring a stylized 'S' and 'X' with stars above, enclosed in a circle, on a black background.

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.

Green circular emblem with stylized design and five stars above it.

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?

Book a call
Visit the SVA Service Award website

Creating the next generation of community.

Two young men wearing matching striped blazers and maroon ties, standing in front of a glass building, holding blue awards, and smiling for the photo.

  • 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.

A black circular logo with white text that reads 'Saskatchewan' above a green emblem with a white stylized 'S' and four stars above it.
A black and white logo with the intertwined letters 'S' and 'V' inside a circle, topped with five stars.
A black background with a logo in the center featuring a stylized 'S' and 'X' inside a circle, with three stars above the circle.
Black and white logo with a stylized 'S' or 'X' in the center, surrounded by five stars and a dark blue circle.

Five level pin system

Member

5 hours

Bronze

32 Hours

Silver

250 Hours

A black t-shirt with a gold emblem and text on the front, featuring a logo with stars and intertwined letters in the center.

Gold

500 Hours

Top Volunteer

Special Recognition

Ambassador

Programme Representative

Black circular emblem with a stylized, overlapping 'S' and 'V' in the center and three stars above it.

Harnessing the collective energy and individual adaptiveness of young people.

Two women wearing masks and gloves organizing paper bags and food containers at an outdoor event under a white canopy.
Three children in blue jackets with 'Cystic Fibrosis NZ' logos, standing outside in front of a tree, holding donation buckets, smiling.

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

A group of young girls outdoors in a field, some wearing pink hats, holding buckets, and appearing to collect something from the ground.
Group of nine students wearing yellow safety vests and school uniforms, standing outdoors in front of a building with trees and shrubs.

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 exists to make that difference in communities.

SVA logo with three stars above, featuring a large 'SVA' and smaller 'TE HUNGA TUARO' beneath.
Visit the SVA Service Award Website

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