The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are now in their 19th year and celebrate the work of thousands of individuals and volunteer teams from a diverse range of organisations across the state.
Congratulations to the 2025 Award winners for the Mid North Coast Volunteer of the Year Awards.
2025 Mid North Coast Volunteer of the Year
Dedicated canteen worker, fundraiser and event organiser Tania Hrbacek has been named the 2025 Mid North Coast Volunteer of the Year for her support for teachers, students and their families across seven schools in the Orara Learning Community.
The category winners for the regional awards are:
2025 Mid North Coast Young Volunteer of the Year
Toby Mitchell
12-year-old artist, author and marine conservationist Toby Mitchell gives his time with the Coffs Coast Wildlife Sanctuary where he raises awareness and funding for the care and conservation of sea turtles. Toby has created his own original artwork, including painted coasters, plant pots and bookmarks, and has written several books for sale at the sanctuary to support its sea turtle rehabilitation program.
2025 Mid North Coast Adult Volunteer of the Year
Tania Hrbacek
There is almost nothing that Tania won’t turn her hand to in support of the seven schools and their students and staff with the Orara Valley Learning Community. She creates the menus, shops for supplies, cooks the meals at canteens, organises school events, celebrations and sports carnivals, and helps raise funds through stalls, raffles, baking sales and sponsorships.
Her tireless work supports a better learning and caring environment for local public school students.
2025 Mid North Coast Senior Volunteer of the Year
Kristine Simeon
Kristine gives her time with the Justice Advocacy Service through the Intellectual Disability Rights Service, where she supports people in need to navigate the court and justice system in the Forster and Tuncurry region. She attends court two to three times a week to ensure all people can get support within the justice system.
2025 Mid North Coast Emergency Volunteer of the Year
Robert Britten
Rob is a skipper at Marine Rescue Port Macquarie where he trains and leads volunteers, helping to keep people safe on the water off the coast and across inland areas. He has been deployed in floods across the region as well as in western and northern NSW, where he has performed life saving rescues in dangerous conditions.
2025 Mid North Coast Volunteer Team of the Year
Belonging to Family Elders with Shine for Kids
The 16 volunteers with the Kempsey based Belonging to Family Elders group give their time with Shine for Kids to mentor and support indigenous parents in custody at the Mid-North Coast Correctional Centre. This pre- and post-release program aims to reconnect families and strengthen family ties to enable a successful transition back into the community. They teach children significant symbols of their culture, tell stories, they listen and offer emotional support. They also travel around NSW to visit youth justice centres.
2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Sponsors
