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 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year Awards.
2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year
Advocacy Australia founder Clare Collins has been named the 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year for her outstanding support and dedication to the victims of serious crimes in NSW.
The category winners for the regional awards are:
2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Young Volunteer of the Year
Cianna Walker
Cianna has given more than 2,000 hours of her time with Y NSW’s Youth Parliament Volunteer Taskforce, where she has encouraged young Aboriginal people to learn about policy and government. She has been an active member of the Aboriginal Affairs Committee, which helps guide young people through the complex process of developing Youth Bills in the lead up to a mock sitting week in NSW Parliament House. (Award accepted by Cianna’s nominator).
2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Adult Volunteer of the Year
Tamera Lang
Tamera has run community not-for-profit playgroups in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for more than a decade, including the Clovelly and Bondi Beach playgroups. She has helped expand and strengthen the volunteer base at the centres, growing the team to 30 parents, providing vital care and support for more than 1,300 families across 4,000 sessions over the past 12 months.
2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Senior Volunteer of the Year
Clare Collins
Clare founded Advocacy Australia in 2020, to provide essential support services for the families and victims of serious crimes. She provides support and a voice for people who feel unheard, alone and unknown in the wake of serious tragedy and trauma. Her strong advocacy helped drive essential legislative reforms to mental health laws in NSW, and greater support for grieving families.
2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Emergency Volunteer of the Year
David Gellert
David has been a member of SES since 2020, joining while he was still at school. As a duty officer, he has served as the first point of contact for assistance, as well as attending land search activities and supporting teams in other areas needing immediate critical assistance. He is now studying a Bachelor of Emergency Management at university.
2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer Team of the Year
Justice Advocacy Service Volunteer Team
The 160 members of the Justice Advocacy Service Volunteer Team provide essential support to people with cognitive impairment as they navigate the justice system across NSW. These volunteers assist individuals during court appearances, legal meetings, when interacting with police and within correctional facilities, ensuring they are not left to face these often overwhelming situations alone.
2025 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Sponsors
