National Community Link Volunteer Awards
28 May 2001 at 1:05 pm
The National Australia Bank has introduced a new category for its 2001 National Community Link Volunteer awards to mark the International Year of the Volunteer.
The NAB is offering prize money of $375,000 this year for more than 100 local community groups. There will be seven national winners who will receive $15,000, 42 other state category winners will receive $5000 along with another 60 nominations which will receive a Highly Commended Award of $1000.
The Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services is supporting the new category named the International Year of Volunteers Award.
To nominate in this category, organisations need to have conducted a project or event that best meets the objectives of IYV such as:
– To recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution volunteers make to a strong, cohesive Australian community.
– To have community, business, media and government work together to build an Australian society that encourages and nurtures a culture of volunteering; and
– To support Australian communities in their engagement in valuable and productive voluntary activities.
Mike Pratt from National Australia Bank says the Volunteer awards are in their fifth year and are designed to encourage more Australians to work for their communities and to recognise and reward outstanding examples of volunteer projects.
Pratt says apart from the prize money, there are other benefits for the winners such as improved self-esteem among their members, increased community awareness and an increase in both new volunteers and financial support.
Every year, one in five Australians over the age of 15 contributes to the community by working as a volunteer.
Mike Pratt says that too often the value of these voluntary contributions by individuals is overlooked and as a major company operating in Australia and globally, National Australia Bank recognises that it has a responsibility to contribute positively to improving the quality of life in local communities.
As well as the new category, prizes will be awarded in the category of Art and Culture, Community Service, Emergency and Safety, Environment, Conservation and Heritage, Health, and Sport and Recreation.
Nominations close on Friday July 27,2001 and the Awards will be presented in Melbourne at a ceremony in October.
For nomination forms and more information you can call the Awards hotline on freecall 1 800 807 121 or visit the Community Link section of the National Bank’s web site at www.national.com.au
Let us know you favourite ‘volunteer’ story, project or person via the Forum on our web site at probonoaustralia.com.au.
