NSW Volunteer of the Year

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award is an annual state 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]

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 Volunteer of the Year Award (awarded at a Regional and State level)

- 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)

NSW Volunteer Team of the Year Award (launched 2009, awarded at a Regional and State level). For the 2010 Award the first round of judging will take place on a regional basis.^[6]
NSW Employee (Corporate) Volunteer of the Year Award (Awarded at a 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.volunteering.com.au

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, in Sydney. The Awards are presented by the Minister for Citizenship and Communities (who is also the Patron of the Award). The 2014 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Ambassador is Paula Duncan.

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:

Mary Mamour, 2007 NSW Volunteer of the Year^[7]
Laurie Smith, 2007 Senior Volunteer of the Year^[7]
Amanda Grant, 2007 Youth and Corporate Volunteer of the Year^[7]

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.^[8]

Layne Beachley, 2008 NSW Volunteer Ambassador Award winner
Shu Fen Wang, 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year
Lorraine Clark, 2008 NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year
Krystle Marsh, 2008 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year
Karen Carmichael, 2008 NSW Corporate Volunteer of the Year

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.^[9]

Liz Mullinar AM was named 2009 NSW Volunteer of the Year
Hayden Zammit, was named 2009 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year
Thea Batterham, was 2009 NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year
ING Bank employee Nigel Dearinger was 2009 NSW Employee Volunteer of the Year
Timehelp Holroyd – a group of 26 retirees from Holroyd was awarded the inaugural 2009 NSW Volunteer Team of the Year

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.

2010 NSW Volunteer of the Year – Graham Symes from Wadalba
2010 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year – Timothy Bayl from Epping
2010 NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year – Bill Phippen from Picton
2010 NSW Highly Commended Senior Volunteer of the Year – Christaan Cartledge from Wollongong
2010 NSW Team Volunteer of the Year – Warrawong Community Kitchen Lunch Volunteer Team
2010 NSW Highly Commended Volunteer Team of the Year – 2WAR FM Volunteer Team from Gilgandra
2010 NSW Employee Volunteer of the Year – Rodney Lowe from Yennora and Alcoa Rolled Products

2014

The 2014 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award ceremony was held at The Kirribilli Club on Friday, 5 December 2014. The award ceremony was hosted by Adam Spencer with The Hon. Victor Michael DOMINELLO, MP, Minister for Citizenship and Communities in attendance to present the award for the overall winner, David Abrahams. ^[10]

2014 NSW Volunteer of the Year - David Abrahams of Grafton (Overall Winner)
2014 NSW Student Volunteer of the Year - Christopher Evans founded Community Mates
2014 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year - Emily Smith for Girl Guides
2014 NSW Adult Volunteer of the Year - Karen Lindley of Bravehearts
2014 NSW Senior Volunteer of the Year - David Abrahams of Grafton (Overall Winner)
2014 Excellence in Volunteer Management Award NSW - SPARK team from St Vincent de Paul Society
2014 NSW Corporate Individual Volunteer of the Year - Kate Boyle, National Australia Bank (MLC)
2014 NSW Corporate Team Volunteer of the Year - Tradies' Volunteer Team