Mr Anthony Keating received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) on Australia Day 2026 for his service to the community through a range of organisations.

His portfolio of volunteer works spans sport, to ministry, to Night Patrol (St Vincent de Paul Society), and most prominently, humanitarianism. 

Mr Keating has been involved in humanitarian work for a number of years, diligently advocating for assistance for those facing crisis through no fault of their own. With motivations centered around supporting people, he explains, "being able to contribute practical assistance in moments of extreme need is both grounding and motivating."

Humbled, he adds:

"I have always viewed my involvement in humanitarian work (and other volunteer work) as a responsibility rather than an achievement. To have that service acknowledged is an honour I accept on behalf of the many volunteers and local communities I have worked alongside and the sacrifice my family have made for my work."

Mr Keating hopes his recognition will generate exposure for causes and communities that might otherwise go unseen; "the UN estimates that there are over 117 million people displaced, and not enough people know that."

As a member of ShelterBox's International Response Team, Mr Keating was deployed to multiple disaster-affected regions such as Haiti, Madagascar, the Philippines, and Nepal, supporting logistics and on-ground relief operations. 

He believes his recognition will "encourage others to volunteer," aligning with Volunteering Australia's 2026 theme, 'Your Year To Volunteer.' 

Finally, Mr Keating acknowledges his support network, stating, "my immediate thoughts were with my family [upon hearing the news of recognition], who enabled me to commit time to humanitarian deployments over many years."

Congratulations, Mr Keating.