The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are now in their 20th year and celebrate the work of thousands of individuals and volunteer teams from a diverse range of organisations across the state.
Congratulations to the 2026 Award winners for the Upper North Shore Volunteer of the Year Awards.
2026 Upper North Shore Volunteer of the Year
Dental care volunteer and Chinese community and multiculturism advocate Dr. Anthony Ching has been named the 2026 Upper North Shore Volunteer of the Year, for his tireless commitment to community cohesion and accessible healthcare.
The category winners for the regional awards are:
2026 Upper North Shore Young Volunteer of the Year
Jordan Dawkins
Jordan gives his time with the North Sydney District Rugby League Referees’ Association where he completely redesigned the organisation’s website and social media pages, helping to increase online engagement and boost its reach to new referees that support the game.
He has volunteered hundreds of hours to modernise the organisation’s outreach, assisted with the development of promotional videos and sponsorship proposals, and supported event management.
2026 Upper North Shore Adult Volunteer of the Year
Anthony Ching
Dr. Ching provides pro bono dental care to vulnerable people or those that cannot afford dental care. He has also given his time with Christian Community Aid, Salvation Army Eastwood, ACCF, Ryde Council Grannie Smith Festival Committee, Ku-ring-gai Council Multicultural Committee, Lupus Australia, and the Lunar New Year Committee.
His volunteering efforts foster social cohesion, cultural pride, and empower young people and women.
2026 Upper North Shore Senior Volunteer of the Year
Kenneth MacRae
Kenneth supports the St Vincent de Paul Society at St Agatha’s Parish with community visits, helping with food, housing, and emotional care.
He is also a rowing coach at St Joseph’s College and Loreto College Normanhurst, where he has helped hundreds of young people participate in sport, gain confidence and support teamwork.
2026 Upper North Shore Emergency Volunteer of the Year
Tim Wilkins
Tim is a volunteer with the NSW State Emergency Service Hornsby Unit, where he serves as Senior Group Officer and Deputy Unit Commander.
He has volunteered with the SES since 2014, providing leadership and support for trainees, incident management and response, logistics, and community liaison. He has also supported interstate communities during major storms, flooding and cyclones.
2026 Upper North Shore Volunteer Team of the Year
Listening Ear Helpline Volunteer Team
The Listening Ear Helpline Volunteer Team provides phone support to people experiencing loneliness, isolation, grief, mental health concerns and personal distress. The 40 team members have given 7,300 hours of service over the past 12 months, responding to more than 6,000 calls from people in need.
Their volunteering efforts help to reduce barriers to support, ease pressure on health services, and foster community connection.
2026 NSW Volunteer of the Year Award Sponsors
