NSW Volunteer of the Year

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award is an annual award for volunteering in New South Wales, Australia run by The Centre for Volunteering and supported by the State Government. It was launched in June 2007 by the then NSW Minister for Volunteering Linda Burney.[1][2]

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recognises the efforts of the 2.4 million volunteers in NSW, and promotes the importance of volunteering to the community and to companies.

Prior to 2007 there was no state-wide recognition program for all volunteers, and the NSW Volunteer of the Year Award program remains the sole annual awards program committed to recognising all volunteers in NSW.

The 2010 Award Partner was Westpac Banking Corporation - Social Sector Banking.[3]

Contents

Award Regions

The Award is judged at a Regional and State level with 19 NSW Regional Volunteer of the Year Awards created throughout NSW: 11 country regions and 8 Sydney regions (the Award started with 15 regions and has been expanded to 19).[4]

Sydney Regions have been based on geography and population size. The Centre has structured these regions so that there is a substantial population in each and some natural synergies between the local government areas in each region.

Country Regions are based on NSW Department of State and Regional Development’s regions apart from: South Coast and Southern Inland are combined into South Coast/ Southern Inland and Orana and Far West/ Outback are combined into Orana/ Far West

Award Categories

There are three major categories with two additional special awards:[5]

- NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year Award (Judges Choice Award - awarded at a Regional and State level)
- NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year Award (Judges Choice Award - awarded at a Regional and State level)

Nomination Dates

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award opens for nomination at the start of National Volunteer Week each year and closes on the 31 August (the nomination closing date has moved from 30 September to 31 August in 2011). Nominations can be made online http://www.nswvolunteerawards.com

Award Ceremonies

Regional Award Ceremonies are held throughout October–November of each year. The State Award Ceremony is held on or near the 5 December each year in recognition of International Volunteer Day, at Parliament House Sydney. The Awards are presented by the Minister for Volunteering (who is also the Patron of the Award). The 2010 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Ambassador is Sydney Swans player Adam Goodes.[7]

Award recipients

2007

The award ceremony was held at the NSW Parliament House, Sydney, on 5 December 2007, on the occasion of the International Volunteer Day. The winners of the 2007 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards were:

The 2007 NSW Regional Volunteer of the Year Award Winners were announced at ceremonies around NSW throughout October-November 2007.

2008

The 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Winners were announced at a gala ceremony held at the NSW Parliament House, Sydney on 5 December 2008, on the occasion of the International Volunteer Day.[9]

The 2008 NSW Regional Volunteer of the Year Award Winners were announced at ceremonies around NSW throughout October-November 2008.

2009

The 2009 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Winners were announced by the then Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Graham West, at a ceremony held at the NSW Parliament House, Sydney on 4 December 2009.[10]

The 2009 NSW Regional Volunteer of the Year Award Winners were announced at ceremonies around NSW throughout October-November 2009.

2010

The 2010 award ceremony was held at the NSW Parliament House, Sydney, on Friday, 3 December 2010, with the 2010 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards presented by the Minister for Volunteering, the Hon Peter Primrose and the 2010 NSW Regional Volunteer of the Year Prizes were presented by the Hon Michael Veitch, MLC.

References