2023 Award Winners
Our volunteers and their exceptional contributions to the community were recognised at the annual University's Volunteer Achievement Awards on Tuesday 5 December. Congratulations to all those nominated in 2023.
Volunteer of the Year
Dr Monica Kerr, Director of Ethics, Compliance & Integrity (accepting the award on behalf of Dr Trethewey) with Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Peter Høj AC
Dr Lynne Trethewey has dedicated 25 years of service to the University’s Human Research Ethics Committee as a Lay Person membership category. During this time, she has attended approximately 180 meetings and reviewed over 1,800 applications while adapting to significant changes in guidelines and legislation. Her contributions have resulted in the University fulfilling its institutional and legal obligations while ensuring the utmost respect and care for research participants and their data.
Student Volunteer of the Year
Jack Hislop, PASS Leader with Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Peter Høj AC
Jack Hislop has been a Peer Assisted Study Session (PASS) Leader since Semester 1, 2020 where he has been facilitating sessions for students in the Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology, in particularly running large-scale sessions on Electronic Systems and Engineering Mechanics Dynamics.
Jack has directly supported the training of 15 new PASS leaders for 2023 by co-facilitating training sessions with staff. He has also had 23 PASS leaders under his guidance and has proven to be a strong and inclusive supporter of new and continuing leaders.
Community Volunteer Group of the Year
Dr Harry Perkins, Community Outreach Dental Program Coordinator with the Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Peter Høj AC
The Community Outreach Dental clinic was launched in September 2011, and operates weekdays within the Light Square Common Ground complex in Adelaide’s West End, which also provides accommodation and a range of other services for the homeless community.
The program currently has 5 qualified dentists who volunteer their work pro bono, with no cost to the patients they serve.
Their dedication to providing essential dental services not only improves the well-being of our community but has also paved the way for invaluable educational opportunities for our students in dentistry, oral health, medicine, and nursing.
Student Volunteer Group of the Year
Sarah Carvalho and International Peer Mentors with the Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Peter Høj AC
The International Peer Mentoring Program has 40 student volunteers who genuinely engage and connect with international students across the University, sharing top-quality campus insider tips, and speaking authentically about the University community, their cultural identity, their student experience, living and learning in Adelaide, and understanding Aussie culture.
They coordinate social engagement events, including the Language and Cultural Engagement program, Campus Tours, CommuniTea and Discover Adelaide, and large-scale events, such as Eid, Diwali.
Volunteer Project of the Year
Sandra Gates and University Library Volunteers with the Vice-Chancellor & President Professor Peter Høj AC
Over the past 2 years the University Library volunteers in collaboration with the University of Sydney have been working on the “Universities & Postwar Recovery project. Together, the volunteers have embarked on a nationwide endeavour to recognise individuals who served our country and later seized the opportunity of education, thus aiding in their rehabilitation, reconnection, and contributions to society.
To date the volunteers have identified over 5,320 University of Adelaide names and over 1,900 detailed biographical profiles. The volunteers’ commitment and delivery of quality work to this global project will enable University staff, students, researchers, and the broader public worldwide, to increasingly access unique material about the University’s history and its people.
2023 Honourable Mention
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Paul Wilkins, Friends of the Library Committee
Paul is a founding member of the Friends of the Library Committee and has delivered an extensive program of activities which has attracted over 2000 members to the Friends of Library community and resulted in donations to the Barr Smith Library Appeal and the Adopt-a-Book program since the committee’s conception in 2002.
Paul has taken the lead of developing a student internship program with the Elder Conservatorium and current students to deliver a music concert performance which showcases the talents of students and graduates to over 100 members of the community in the beautiful Reading Room.
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Ruby Frittman, English Language Centre
Ruby has been a volunteer with the English Language Centre’s Connection Mates Program since 2017.
Over the past 6 years, Ruby has enhanced the overall international student experience by facilitating and developing social connections among students enrolled at the English Language Centre by running activities such as boardgames, cross-cultural conversations and Australian Quiz. Being one of the longest serving volunteers of the program, Ruby provides guidance and support to fellow volunteers.
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Taseef Farook, Senior Academic Integrity Ambassador
Dr Farook is currently completing a PhD at the University of Adelaide and has been volunteering as a Senior Academic Integrity Ambassador since August 2022. Taseef has been designing and leading educational workshops around academic integrity to fellow students, and actively participating in staff planning workshops.
He also volunteers as an International Peer Mentor and Children’s University volunteer and was recently awarded the Study Adelaide 2023 International Student of the Year.
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Aini Sharir, Community Volunteer Advisory Committee
Aini is currently completing a Masters in Civil & Environmental Engineering while volunteering with the Community Volunteering Program, Children’s University, Learning & Enhancement Program, and the Student Wellbeing Advisory Group.
Aini has been instrumental in leading the Community Volunteering Advisory Committee this year by helping to engage with NFP organisations to provide a variety of meaningful volunteering activities for our student volunteers. She has started an Instagram page for the program to showcase the amazing work our student volunteers are doing in the community.
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Don Dunstan Foundation, Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration
The Don Dunstan Foundation is a group of over 30 community and student volunteers who support the Foundation's various activities that inspire action for a fairer world, honouring the legacy of the late Premier, Don Dunstan.
In 2023, volunteers were instrumental in the success of the annual Lowitja O'Donoghue Oration event, held during Reconciliation Week at The University of Adelaide which featured guest Orator the Prime Minister, Hon Anthony Albanese MP.