Corporate volunteering celebrated at NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards

Volunteers working across the banking and finance sector, pharmaceutical and aviation industries, and the transport and professional services businesses have been selected as finalists for the NSW 2019 Corporate Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The awards are a part of the NSW Volunteer of the Year program, one of the largest celebrations of volunteering across the country.

Each year, a number of Corporate Volunteer finalists are chosen in Team and Individual award categories, and invited to attend the State Ceremony of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

They’re joined by the finalists for the Excellence in Volunteer Management Award. A winner for each category is announced at the State Ceremony on Thursday 5 December – International Volunteers Day.

NSW 2019 Corporate Volunteer of the Year (individual) finalists:

• Amy Dodd: Greater Bank
• Jason Ibrahim: AMP
• Nars Lumba: Pfizer Cares Australia
• Vicki Thompson: Bloomberg

 NSW 2019 Corporate Volunteer Team of the Year finalists:

• Boehringer-Ingelheim Team volunteering with Royal Rehab
• Clayton Utz volunteering with Cerebral Palsy Alliance
• Qantas Cabin Crew Team volunteering with Frontier Services’ Outback Links  
• Transdev (Light Rail) Team volunteering with the Asylum Seekers Centre
• Virgin Australia volunteering with the Starlight Children’s Foundation

NSW 2019 Excellence in Volunteer Management finalists

• Dorothy Hennessy OAM: Rotary Club of Wollongong
• Oscar Mussons:  Asylum Seekers Centre
• Starlight Volunteer Team: Starlight Children’s Foundation

The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said employees volunteering in the workplace and those managing volunteer programs help build connections in local and regional communities.

“Corporate volunteers and volunteer managers give their time helping in schools, hospitals, for sporting clubs, the environment, and with many community-based organisations,” Ms Rygate said.

“They are a driving force for volunteering and that effort makes a huge difference to people and healthy, well-connected communities.”

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are supported by principal partners the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and ClubsNSW, representing the state’s 1,400 not-for-profit clubs.

Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said volunteers made an enormous contribution to local communities.

“A vibrant volunteering sector leads to healthy and strong communities,” Mr Ward said.

“In NSW, volunteers contribute more than $5 billion to the economy each year and their social contribution is even greater. The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are a fitting way to say thanks.”

ClubsNSW CEO Anthony Ball said that volunteers were the backbone of licensed clubs across the state, so it was a natural fit for the industry to support such an important program.

“The calibre of our local volunteers never ceases to amaze me, and I’m proud to represent an industry in which around 32,000 volunteers help to make clubs such great places,” Mr Ball said.

“I congratulate all the volunteers who were recognised today for their dedication and commitment.”