The Joy Noble Medal

Winner – Dulcie Boag (*Image: Bernadette Boag accepting award on behalf of her mum Dulcie)

Dulcie Boag has been an integral part of Hutt St Centre for over 44 years, contributing her time, skills, and compassion to almost all aspects of the organisation. Dulcie has helped the Hutt St Centre through their Op Shop, front reception, sorting donations, coordinating fundraising efforts and events, and helping out in their kitchen. Recently, she celebrated her 89th Birthday – which equates to her committing almost half her life to Hutt St Centre!

Throughout her years of service, Dulcie has faced numerous challenges, including changes in the operating environment, fluctuations in funding, and personal hardships. However Dulcie has remained steadfast in her commitment to serving others and her resilience and determination to make a positive impact have enabled her to overcome these challenges and continue her invaluable volunteer work without hesitation.

Through her involvement in various community outreach initiatives, Dulcie has helped to forge connections between Hutt St Centre and the broader community. Her passion for social justice and her commitment to advocating for the marginalised have inspired others to support the organisation’s efforts.

Dulcie’s steadfast presence and compassionate nature have been a source of comfort and support for countless individuals facing homelessness.

The Young Volunteer Award

Winner – Atiu Kuot Madut

Atiu has volunteered with the Australian Refugee Association since 2018 as a Peer Leader in ARA’s Youth Ambassador program. Through her involvement as a volunteer, she has played a meaningful role in helping young people identify their ideas, vision for their communities and discover their unique leadership style and capabilities.

Atiu has volunteered in a range of areas including participating in Youth Parliament program, volunteering at the Fringe Festival, and volunteering with ARA Youth Camps. Through volunteering, Atiu has consistently grown each year in her capacity to compassionately engage young people, helping them to feel welcome and connected.

During her studies at university for a Bachelor of Laws, in 2022 Atiu began volunteering in ARA’s migration team. Since then, she has supported this team in their important work.

During 2023 she volunteered raising awareness about the Referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, particularly in multicultural communities, and more recently has shared her story on video to promote volunteering in multicultural communities. She has also volunteered to speak at various ARA events over the years to inspire other young people of refugee backgrounds.

Atiu’s loyalty and long-term dedication to contributing to ARA’s work alongside young people has been an inspiration to each new group of Youth Ambassadors.

‘The Andamooka’ Community Project Award

Winner – APY Lands Shelter Project 

With the APY Lands covering over 103,000 square kilometres this very remote part of South Australia poses significant issues for Indigenous people travelling between communities. Having a designated place to rest or to seek emergency shelter, to have access to shade, wind break and water is a vital component of keeping people safe in these remote areas.

Through the APY Lands Shelter Project, the Rotary Club of Onkaparinga worked with a range of partners to design and construct a number of purpose-built roadside shelters with an accompanying water tank, wind protection and table setting which are placed adjacent to roadsides in strategic locations.

Volunteers from the Onkaparinga Rotary Club travelled from the Adelaide Hills to the APY Lands, some 1400 km, at their own expense, to complete the installation of six shelters in 2022. In March 2024 another two shelters will be constructed, and plans for an additional two shelters are underway.

The APY Shelter Project partnership has forged ongoing relationships that will enhance future joint community projects across the APY Lands.

The Excellence in Volunteer Management Award

Winner – Manju Shelke 

Manju Shelke started as a Volunteer Coordinator with the Northern Healthcare Volunteer Association in 2016. She made an impact immediately by undertaking a review of all relevant systems and processes to understand volunteering activity, gaps and opportunities. This audit led to the development of a Volunteer Engagement Strategy that would clearly communicate Volunteer Services Goals while setting expectations and boundaries. Manju worked collaboratively with the team on formalising policy that set the foundations for a safe volunteer service within the hospital.

Manju collaboratively developed the ‘Comfort Care Program’, where volunteers can cuddle, read, sing, play or just sit with infants or children to provide support when hospital staff are performing clinical tasks, and revived and revitalised the much-valued Palliative Care Biography program at the Modbury Hospital, which enables patients in Palliative Care to share and record their life story.

Manju continues to provide outstanding leadership and management to the Association Volunteers and an invaluable service to the many stakeholders in the healthcare community within the Northern Suburbs.

The Premier’s Award for Corporate Social Responsibility

Winner – Beyond Bank SA

Beyond Bank is one of Australia’s largest customer-owned banks with branches and offices across Australia. They partner with more than 5000 community organisations around the nation to create and return value for their customers and communities and, through this, change lives.

Beyond Bank Australia, has had a long commitment to volunteering in Australia and over the years has forged major partnerships with Volunteering Australia, and state and territory volunteering peaks including Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering WA and Volunteering ACT.

With support from Volunteering SA&NT, Beyond Bank initiated their Corporate Volunteering Program formally in 2013, that provides all staff with 2 fully paid volunteer leave days per year. In 2023, Bank staff nationally contributed over 1238 hours of formal volunteering support, and in South Australia, staff contributed 98 days of volunteering, or almost 738.3 hours in total.

The bank’s Community Development Division operates the Corporate Volunteering Program, whilst forming crucial partnerships with not for profits (NFPs) here in South Australia and across the country.