Trish Carling is the winner of the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award – Canberra Region and finalist for the Australian Volunteer of the Year for 2026.
Trish has made extensive and significant contributions to the Canberra community over 30 years through her dedicated and active volunteering at Palliative Care ACT.
Since April 1996, Trish has volunteered weekly at Clare Holland House (also known as the Hospice). Since December 2022, Trish has also supported the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Clinic and Support Group.
Trish provides meals and companionship to patients and their families. She also assists with laundry, flower arrangements, and supports the medical team. In the MND Support Group, Trish facilitates compassionate discussions for terminally ill members and collaborates with healthcare professionals to enhance the experience for participants and their families.
As a member of the Palliative Care ACT’s Voluntary Advisory Committee from 2015 to 2017, Trish advocated for volunteers’ needs and contributed to meetings and communications. She embodies the spirit of community-mindedness, creating vital connections, reducing isolation, and being respectful that everyone matters.
