We had some fantastic nominations for our 2022 Hunter Volunteer of the Year. Today we were delighted to celebrate them all at the 2022 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards ceremony at the NEX.
The 2022 Hunter Volunteer of the Year is Salwa Salwa, a supporter of international students, mental health and multilingual services. A huge congratulations also to our other award winners: Hayley Johns from the Maitland Show and the National Rural Health Student Network, Merewether Surf Life Saving Club volunteer Nick Newton and the team from Survivor’s R Us Incorporated.
2022 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award recipients for the Hunter region:
Young Volunteer of the Year – Hayley Johns from Bolwarra Height
University student Hayley Johns has been nominated for her volunteer support for the Hunter River Agricultural & Horticultural Association, the organisers of the Maitland Show.
She also supports the local community via numerous other volunteer roles with the National Rural Health Student Network, St John Ambulance at Maitland, the local SES and Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health.
Adult Volunteer of the Year – Salwa Salwa from Lambton
Salwa’s volunteering includes supporting international students at university, raising awareness for youth mental health and supporting multicultural services.
She volunteers as a peer mentor for international students at Newcastle University, gives her time for equity, diversity and inclusion programs and promotes better support for student mental health.
Outside university campus, Salwa gives her time as a volunteer tutor at the Adult Migrant English Program, as well as providing multilingual and multicultural support at the Multicultural Neighbourhood Centre in Newcastle and Hamilton Community Language School.
Senior Volunteer of the Year – Nickolas Newton from Newcastle
Nick Newton has been volunteering at the Merewether Surf Life Saving Club for more than 25 years as club captain, patrol captain and club president.
He has given thousands of hours during life saver patrols, nipper sessions and bronze medallion and surf rescue courses as well as the administration of the club, its volunteers and members.
Volunteer Team of the Year – Survivor’s R Us Incorporated
The 50 volunteers at Survivor’s R Us Incorporated in Cardiff help to stock and pack items from the organisation’s warehouse for people who are in need because of the impact of domestic violence, unemployment or homelessness.
The team manages the op shop, the food and grocery service called the Pantry, and provides support for its for counselling services. They also run a breakfast barbeque for the community, two mornings a week.
Regional finalists for the awards are announced at 25 ceremonies throughout NSW and are invited to the Gala State Ceremony for the announcement of the 2022 NSW Volunteer of the Year.
The 2022 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW, which represents the state’s 1,400 not-for-profit clubs.