Outstanding young volunteers rewarded for effort

Eleven young Queenslanders were recognised for their outstanding volunteering achievements at a special award ceremony in Brisbane today.

Youth Minister Warren Pitt presented seven individuals and one team of four people, with a Queensland Young Volunteer Award certificate and $2000 in prize money.

Mr Pitt said the Queensland Young Volunteer Awards, which coincided with this week’s National Youth Week celebrations, were a wonderful way to recognise and reward the positive difference young volunteers made in their communities.

“The act of volunteering brings wide ranging benefits for everyone involved,” Mr Pitt said.

”It can help young people to develop their organisational and social skills, to connect them with their local community and to discover new pathways to employment.

“These awards also aim to raise community awareness of the nature and extent of the contribution that young volunteers make throughout Queensland.”

The 2007 award winners (see list attached) include volunteers from established organisations such as the St Vincent de Paul Society and the State Emergency Service, as well as from new programs such as the Islamic Rugby League competition.

Mr Pitt said more than 80 nominations were received for this year’s Queensland Young Volunteer Awards and all were of an incredibly high standard.

“I am continually amazed and pleased at the growing number of young people who give so much back to their local communities,” he said.

“These awards are one way we can help shift community perceptions that volunteering is something only older people do.

“The changing demographic profile of volunteers has meant that more and more young people are looking for ways to contribute and are now volunteering across various sectors.

“These young people give us all great hope, not only for the ongoing vibrancy of volunteering, but also for the future of the Queensland community as a whole.”

For more information about volunteering, go to www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280

Queensland Young Volunteer Award – 2007 winners

Asghar Akbar
Islamic Rugby League; Calamvale
Asghar has been crucial to the development and establishment of the Islamic Rugby League competition in Brisbane. He helped to develop an innovative project building the confidence of participants and contributing to community wellbeing and harmonious relationships.

Lana Godfrey
Queensland Police Citizens Youth Club – 3637 4222; Windsor
Lana is a director on the Queensland Police Citizens Youth Club board. She has assisted with a range of activities and events, including a 14-day trip to Palm Island working with young people through the PCYC.

Kristy Jensen
State Emergency Service – 4038 2587; Smithfield
As a member of the State Emergency Service, Kristy volunteered more than 200 hours of her time during the clean-up after Cyclone Larry. She also raised more than $9000 for the Lions Club through the Miss Popularity Quest.

Mia Lumley
Lead On Cairns; Cairns
Mia volunteers across a wide range of organisations, including Lead On Cairns, Migrant Settlement Services and YMCA Queensland. She also volunteered at an orphanage in Bali, which repaired a damaged roof as a result of her fundraising.

Matthew Milgate 
Logan City Police Citizens Youth Club; Woodridge
Matthew is the DJ and coordinator for the Logan City Police Citizens Youth Club’s junior monthly disco. Matthew also regularly volunteers with the SES, Volunteer Marine Rescue and the Volunteer Coast Guard.

Matthew Ross
Boys Town – 3368 3399; Paddington
Matthew is a volunteer with Boys Town, actively helping other young people to pursue work, study and apprenticeships. Matthew now works with Kids Help Line and continues to volunteer and contribute to the community.

Jodie Stephenson
Haemophilia Foundation; Anstead
Jodie is the vice-president of the Queensland Haemophilia Foundation. Jodie, who is also a haemophiliac, plays a key role in the organisation by staging social and fundraising activities. At a national level, Jodie is a youth coordinator, mentoring and providing leadership to other youth with haemophilia.

Jess Wellard, Alexandra Gasteen, Sarah Ison, Greg Nelson
St Vincent de Paul Society - 3010 1000; South Brisbane
Jess, Alexandra, Sarah and Greg are members of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s program, Volunteer Refugee Tutoring and Community Support Program (VoRTCS) Created and managed by volunteers, VoRTCS helps refugee families to settle into their new life in south-east Queensland by providing English language and cultural support.