Optus Wins 2008 NSW Corporate Volunteer Award

5 December 2008 | The Centre for Volunteering

Optus' IT Commercial Director, Karen Carmichael, and Optus have been recognised for mobilising an exemplary Employee Volunteering program at one of South West Sydney's priority funded schools, Lurnea High School.

They have been awarded the title of 2008 Corporate Volunteer of the Year by the NSW Minister for Volunteering, Graeme West, in a ceremony at Parliament House today - International Volunteer Day. The Award is part of The Centre for Volunteering's annual Volunteer of the Year Award.

The program, which is part of Optus' Corporate Social Responsibility Program, gives students at the school a professional development experience with Optus, well beyond what they would otherwise have access to.

Through utilising her business contacts from 16 years with the company, Karen is able to offer the students work experiences far beyond the scope of their limited personal and school networks.

For some students this represents their only tangible link to the corporate world due to difficult socio-economic circumstances, particularly for non-English speakers.

Karen and Optus IT people regularly visit the school campus, so the students can interact and get to know established professionals. Students are then invited to visit the Optus corporate headquarters in Macquarie Park, where they are involved in substantial work experience programs.

The Optus and Lurnea High School program was facilitated by the Australian Business and Community Network (ABCN) who developed the Partners in Learning program. The ABCN is a group of national business leaders who work with schools in areas of high need to broaden the horizons of students, support educators and engage business to build stronger communities.

• Ashfield resident Shu Fen Wang was named 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year for her work over the past 10 years with the West Region Chinese Association;
• Krystle Marsh was named 2008 NSW Youth Volunteer of the Year for her work with Vinnies and the Australian Red Cross. Krystle has just completed year 12 student at Warilla High School;
• Lorraine Clark, of Warringah was named 2008 NSW Senior Volunteerof the Year for her contribution to the Special Olympics program for the past 18 years; and
• Layne Beachley, the most successful female surfer of all time and seven-time world champion, and Founder and Chief Executive of the Layne Beachley Aim for the Stars Foundation, has been awarded the inaugural NSW Volunteer Ambassador of the Year Award.

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Award was initiated and coordinated by the peak body for volunteering in NSW, The Centre for Volunteering. All winners from the 16 regions which made up the State final are featured on The Centre's website www.volunteering.com.au

More information

Kristin Romanis
Communications Manager and 2008 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Manager
T 0412 313 359 or 02 9261 3600
E kromanis@volunteering.com.au

About The Centre for Volunteering

The Centre for Volunteering is the peak body for volunteering in NSW. The Centre promotes and supports volunteering and community participation through volunteer referral, advocacy, research, policy and resource development, training, information and education services enhance the capacity and skills of volunteers, not-for-profits, corporations and government to become involved in the community. Visit www.volunteering.com.au