Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk wins Volunteer Team of the Year 2021
The dedicated volunteers at the Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk have won 'Volunteer Team of the Year' at the 2021 NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards. The event is run by The Centre for Volunteering to recognise the outstanding effort of volunteers working across all sections of communities throughout the state.
Sixty-one volunteers run the kiosk from opening to closing and have raised $1.7 million for Broken Hill hospital over the past 10 years. Even during COVID-19 when the kiosk was largely closed, the team managed to donate $125,000 for new hospital equipment. The volunteers have created a safe, welcoming space in the Hospital and a range of delicious food that support the Far West community and Hospital.
NSW State of Volunteering Report found that volunteers contribute more than $127 billion to NSW annually in social and economic benefits.
The research concluded that every dollar invested in volunteering services across the state returns $3.30 in economic benefit and that the 4.9 million volunteers in NSW contributed 1.5 billion hours to their communities in the past year.
Far West LHD Chief Executive, Mr Umit Agis, would like to congratulate the Broken Hill Hospital Kiosk Team on their well-deserved win and extends its thanks and appreciation to all of its generous volunteers across the District.
'Our volunteers make an enormous contribution to the organisation and the wider community and this cannot be understated,' he said.
Our volunteers bring a positive influence to the lives of our patients, their families, carers and our staff. Much of this work goes unnoticed by the general public but the health service is extremely appreciative, we know what they do and how their contribution - no matter how small or significant - can make a big difference.
'We hope that all our volunteers know we appreciate them for everything they do throughout the health service and throughout the year,' said Mr Agis.
NSW Health has a long successful history of encouraging a culture of engaging the community in volunteering. Last year, Far West LHD volunteer Amelia Butler won 'Senior Volunteer of the Year' and 'Volunteer of the Year', and the Broken Hill Health Service TeleCross Team won 'Volunteer Team of the Year'.
'The fact that two years running Far West volunteers have been acknowledged for their outstanding contribution highlights the esteem with which our volunteers are regarded by the state,' said Mr Agis.
NSW Health greatly values the relationship fostered with volunteers who generously give their time, knowledge and life experiences to support our health services.