ASC opens nominations for Sports Volunteer of the Year

The Australian Sports Commission has opened nominations for the 2024 Sports Volunteer of the Year Award to be announced at the annual AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs).

The award is part of the Australian Sports Commission’s (ASC) dedication to championing the role of volunteers and it is a key component of the Sport Volunteer Coalition Action Plan.

Presented by Volunteering Australia, the award recognises volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to sporting organisations, clubs, teams or programs over the past year.

This is the third year the prestigious award will be presented at the ASPAs hosted at Centrepiece in Melbourne, where Australia’s exceptional sport volunteers will be recognised alongside the country’s best high-performance athletes.

Elysa Oliveri from the Thornleigh Cricket Club in NSW took out the honours in 2023 for her terrific work fundraising and coaching in the all-abilities Blowfly Cricket club.

“I love that the ASPAs is getting the volunteers, and everyone who does the work behind the scenes involved,” Oliveri shared.

“It’s not just about the athletes, it is also about the people who work endless hours volunteering. I’m really happy everyone can be in the same room together to celebrate sport in Australia.”

Inaugural recipient, Nicole Williams from the Brighton Cricket Club in Adelaide was recognised for her outstanding work raising awareness about the role of volunteers.

“It was quite a challenge to come in and change people’s perceptions around community sport. It’s about identifying some key people within your community and asking them to step up and help out,” Williams said.

The following organisations are eligible to nominate one outstanding volunteer who could follow in Williams and Oliveri’s footsteps:

• Local sporting clubs (affiliated with organisations in the ASC National Sports Directory)

• State Sporting Organisations

• National Sporting Organisations and National Sporting Organisations for People with Disability

• Community Sport Australia Sports Federations

• National Institute Network and Games Partners.

Nominations are now open and will close on Wednesday 23rd October 2024. They can be submitted via an online form distributed by the Australian Sports Commission. Applications will be assessed based on the selection criteria.

Nominate your 2024 Sport Volunteer of the Year here.

Image. Elysa Oliveri receives the 2023 Sport Volunteer of the Year Award at the ASPAs, pictured with former ASC Chair Josephine Sukkar. Credit: ASC