After 25 online regional ceremonies in local communities across NSW we were delighted to finally meet everyone in person at our state awards ceremony to announce the 2021 NSW Volunteers of the Year.
Thank you to the Award partners, NSW Department of Communities and Justice and Clubs NSW, as well as award sponsors Australian Seniors, Castle Hill RSL Group, Hako Australia, Lindt Chocolates, Norths Collective, Nova Employment, Seiko, Winten Property Group and VDG Services.
2021 NSW Volunteer of the Year Recipients
The 2021 winners are:
- Volunteer of the Year and Young Volunteer of the Year: Abbie Kelly from Broken Hill
- Adult Volunteer of the Year: Sayeed Karimi from Regents Park
- Senior Volunteer of the Year – joint winners: Kay Ching-Kue from Chatswood, and Helen Mears from Coffs Harbour
- Volunteer Team of the Year: South Western Sydney Local Health District Palliative Care COVID-19 team
- Club Volunteer of the Year: John Rodd from Wagga RSL
- Corporate Volunteer of the Year: Aristocrat Technologies
- Excellence in Volunteer Management: Royal Rehab Volunteer Services, from Ryde.
Congratulations to all the 2021 winners, finalists and nominees!
Thank you to the Award partners, NSW Department of Communities and Justice and Clubs NSW, as well as award sponsors Australian Seniors, Castle Hill RSL Group, Hako Australia, Lindt Chocolates, Norths Collective, Nova Employment, Seiko, Winten Property Group and VDG Services.
You can view the images from the 2021 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards Gala State Ceremony here.
The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate:
“Despite COVID-19, volunteers have continued to work right across the spectrum of the sector.
“They’ve worked to deliver meals to the vulnerable; care packages have been provided for families in need in locked down areas; and lifeline phones have continued to be answered. Volunteers have made sure people in palliative care are treated safely, with care and dignity; they’ve helped keep aged care residents connected; and they’ve protected communities in the face of natural disasters.
“In short, volunteers have helped keep their communities going in a crisis. Today’s ceremony is to say thank you, not just to the finalists, but to each and every volunteer in NSW.”
NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens:
“Volunteers are the glue that helps bind our communities together.
Over the past 18 months they have risen to the challenges in emergency services, the environment, health, youth and community sport, to name but a few.”
Volunteering stretches across all generations and all communities in NSW and I congratulate all volunteers, not just the award winners and nominees, for their invaluable contributions.
Abbie is an inspiring young person who showcases the talent and can do attitude of volunteering, and is a very deserving recipient of this years’ NSW Volunteer of the Year Award.”
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis:
“After the challenging year we have had, I’ve never been more proud to support the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards and represent an industry where more than 30,000 volunteers help to make clubs such great places to bring people together.
“Well done to all the volunteers who were recognised at today’s ceremony for their extraordinary work. These people have continued to donate their time and effort to support others, despite the challenges of COVID-19, floods and more.
“The 25 online regional ceremonies over the last three months have been fantastic, but to be able to say thank you in person today feels very special.”
Regional Award Ceremonies
- North Shore
- North West Sydney
- Mid North Coast
- Upper North Coast
- Blue Mountains
- Outer Western Sydney
- Illawarra
- Northern Beaches
- New England/Northern Inland
- Mid Western Sydney
- South Western Sydney/Macarthur
- Upper North Shore
- Western Sydney
- Central West
- Orana
- Central Coast
- Hunter
- South Coast
- Southern Inland
- Central Sydney
- Far West
- Northern Rivers
- Sydney City/Eastern Suburbs
- Southern Sydney
- Riverina
Our supporters
The Centre for Volunteering would like to thank the
generosity of the following organisations for their ongoing support of the NSW
Volunteer of the Year Awards:
NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards Principal Partners
NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards Supporters
