Last month, at the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards our CEO, Bev Jowle presented the 2025 WA Lifetime Contribution to Volunteering Award to Mr Colin Longworth, a prestigious honour recognising more than four decades of volunteering and advocacy to support the LGBTIQA+ community.
Colin began volunteering in 1981 with the Homosexual Counselling and Information Service at a time when homosexuality was still illegal in Western Australia. His motivation was deeply personal. “If I’d known other LGB people, someone to talk to about this ‘discovery’ and how it might impact my life, it would have been a lot easier,” he reflects. This feeling of isolation only strengthened his commitment to become a listening ear and reliable source of support for others facing similar challenges.
In this volunteering role, Colin offered empathy, support and accurate information at a time when safe, non-judgmental spaces were rare. During the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, as a gay man, his work became even more important in the face of widespread fear, misinformation and stigma.
Over the years, he also played a vital role in training and mentoring dozens of peer supporters and volunteers, many of whom went on to build their own careers in community services. This latest honour from Volunteering WA is one of several bestowed upon him over the years. Living Proud, the organisation Colin has aligned himself with for many years, recognised his commitment with life membership in 2011 as a tribute to his enduring impact.
However, volunteering didn’t just shape Colin’s community work, it also changed the course of his professional life. When technological changes made his job in the clothing trade redundant, he looked for a new direction.
“I’d already been volunteering for a few years, and I thought, maybe there’s something more I can do here,” he recalls. That led him to study behavioural science and eventually qualify as a psychologist, opening a successful practice where he continues to support individuals from all walks of life.
Another step further
His dedication to advocacy extends beyond volunteering and clinical work. Colin has written many insightful articles over the years, ranging from politics and history to advice and lived experience. He remains deeply aware of the ongoing challenges older LGBTIQA+ people face.
“I remember a documentary about someone who moved into a facility, and they would hide photos of their same-sex partner or stage a spare bedroom when they visited just to avoid questions,” he says. “That fear hasn’t disappeared.” He’s witnessed firsthand how assumptions persist, even in places like hospitals. “I recall a moment right in the middle of the marriage equality debate a few years back, when I was asked, ‘When’s your wife visiting?’”
At the time, although very awkward, Colin tactfully mentioned this gaffe to a safe person on the medical team. He was pleased to hear some time later that language sensitivity training initiatives had been put in place to encourage hospital staff to make their communication with patients more inclusive, and less intrusive.
Colin Longworth’s work continues, both as a volunteer and as a social commentator for change. When asked what volunteering has meant to him, Colin answered:
“It’s about making things better for those who follow in my metaphorical footsteps.”
After 40 years of volunteering service, these are some big shoes to fill!
Thanks again to Volunteering WA for hosting this important annual event to recognise the amazing impact of volunteers on our community life. Congratulations to all the other winners and nominees, and heartfelt thanks to those who took the time to nominate and celebrate these big-hearted individuals.
