Time to Honour Our Heroes: NSW Volunteer Awards Nominations Now Open

It’s time to shine a light on the incredible individuals who selflessly give their time and skills to make a difference across our communities.

Nominations for the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards are now officially open, providing a vital opportunity to recognise these everyday heroes.

Volunteering is defined as time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.

It encompasses more than just formal roles; it includes giving your time, sharing your skills, and helping out in your community.

Acts of giving and helping that are deeply embedded in cultural practices are also forms of volunteering. For example, cooking a meal to give to firefighters is considered volunteering because it benefits people outside your immediate household and family.

However, helping only family members or those you live with, like cooking a meal for a cousin's birthday, is not classified as volunteering in this context.

The contribution of volunteers in NSW is immense.

In 2023 alone, 4.3 million residents volunteered, contributing a staggering 893.9 million hours.

This effort resulted in an estimated $178 billion economic benefit to the state. On average, volunteers in NSW dedicate about 4 hours per week to their efforts.

This vital workforce is diverse, including young people, seniors, skilled professionals, and people with disabilities.

Notably, over 737,000 young people aged 15-24 were among the volunteers in 2023. Informal volunteering is also prevalent, with 4.4 million residents helping non-family members with tasks.

A significant portion of volunteering – 47.5 per cent – happens within local communities, while 33.4 per cent is done from home or online.

The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards aim to celebrate this significant contribution.

There are seven award categories designed to honour a wide range of volunteers, whether they are young people, seasoned volunteers, leaders, or those serving in emergency services.

Nominating someone is straightforward and takes place via The Centre for Volunteering's website.

Simply navigate to the “Awards” section to get started.

The 2025 nomination process allows for two distinct types of recognition:

Nomination for Recognition Only: This is the simplest way to acknowledge a volunteer.

These nominations are not judged, but the volunteer will be invited to their regional ceremony and presented with a certificate identical to those nominated for judging. This process requires completing four parts.

Nomination for Judging: This is for nominees who will be considered for the main NSW Volunteer of the Year Award within their category.

This requires completing three detailed questions about the nominee's work, and all must be finished for the nomination to be accepted by the Judging Committee.

It is important to note that volunteers and volunteer leaders are not permitted to nominate themselves.

The power to recognise their efforts lies with the community they serve.

Don't miss this chance to show your appreciation for the volunteers who strengthen our communities every day.

Be quick to submit your nominations, as they close at 5pm on Friday May 23.

https://www.volunteering.com.au/awards/about-the-awards/