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Champion for Victims' Rights, Clare Collins, Named NSW Volunteer of the Year: Sydney & Eastern Suburbs Region

Advocacy Australia

Key Facts:

• Clare Collins was named both Senior Volunteer of the Year and overall 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year for her work supporting victims of serious crimes and asbestos awareness advocacy
• She founded Advocacy Australia in 2020 to provide support and advocacy for victims of serious crimes and their families, helping drive legislative reforms to mental health laws in NSW
• The awards ceremony was held at Club York in Sydney's CBD, where Clare was presented with the trophy by NSW Attorney General Michael Daley
• Clare was nominated by Kristy Smith, whose niece Emerald Wardle was killed in 2020, for her work in supporting families through traumatic circumstances
• The NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, now in their 19th year, celebrate volunteers' contributions across the state, with regional winners advancing to the State Ceremony later in the year

Champion for Victims’ Rights, Clare Collins,

Named NSW Volunteer of the Year: Sydney & Eastern Suburbs Region

Advocacy Australia is proud to announce that our founder, Clare Collins, this week was recognised with two prestigious honours at the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards – Sydney City and Eastern Suburbs Region, hosted by The Centre for Volunteering.

Clare was named both the Senior (Over 65) Volunteer of the Year and the overall 2025 Sydney City–Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year, in recognition of her exceptional dedication to supporting victims of serious crimes and their families, and her tireless advocacy for asbestos education and awareness.

The awards ceremony, held at Club York in Sydney’s CBD, was a moving celebration of volunteerism across NSW. Clare was presented with the Sydney City–Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year trophy by The Hon. Michael Daley, NSW Attorney General, who commended her unwavering advocacy, compassion, leadership, and service to some of the state’s most vulnerable people.

Since founding Advocacy Australia in 2020, Clare has worked tirelessly to provide essential support and a voice for people facing unimaginable tragedy. Her leadership and advocacy have been instrumental in driving key legislative reforms to mental health laws in NSW and securing greater support for grieving families.

Clare Collins said “I was shocked and overwhelmed to be recognised, and felt truly humbled being in a room full of extraordinary people who give so much of themselves to improve the lives of others and strengthen communities across our region. To be recognised alongside such inspiring individuals is an incredible honour, and I share this award with every volunteer whose compassion and commitment make a real difference.”

Clare was nominated by Kristy Smith, aunt of Emerald Wardle, who was brutally killed by her partner in 2020.

Ms. Smith said, “Until I found Clare, my family and I were alone, with limited support, trying to survive a horrific situation no one should ever have to endure. What sets Clare apart is her courage to challenge barriers others see as insurmountable, her ability to rally decision-makers, and her unwavering commitment to upholding victims’ rights. She has given us back our voices.”

Now in their 19th year, the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards celebrate the contributions of thousands of volunteers across the state who help build stronger, more resilient communities.

Advocacy Australia extends our heartfelt thanks to The Centre for Volunteering for recognising Clare’s outstanding contribution and for their continued work in promoting and supporting volunteerism in our community.

The NSW Minister with responsibility for Volunteering, Jodie Harrison said, “Congratulations to the recipients of the Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year Awards. You’ve been recognised as heroes by the people in your communities who know you best. We thank you for your ongoing contributions, which make New South Wales the best state to live and work in. These awards are an important way we recognise your passion and dedication.

The Centre for Volunteering CEO Gemma Rygate said, “In difficult times, volunteers often come forward to meet a crisis with compassion. Their dedication isn’t just admirable; it underpins a more resilient and compassionate society. These exceptional individuals give selflessly and show up for others when it matters most.”

2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year Recipients:

• 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer of the Year: Clare Collins
• 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Young Volunteer of the Year: Cianna Walker – Y NSW Youth Parliament
• 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Adult Volunteer of the Year: Tamera Lang – Bondi Beach Playgroups
• 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Senior Volunteer of the Year: Clare Collins – Advocacy Australia
• 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Emergency Volunteer of the Year: David Gellert – SES
• 2025 Sydney City-Eastern Suburbs Volunteer Team of the Year: Justice Advocacy Service Volunteer Team

Sydney and Eastern Suburbs Volunteer Award recipients will represent their region at the Gala State Ceremony, where the NSW Volunteer of the Year is announced across each category later this year.

-ENDS-

 

HASHTAGS: #AdvocacyAustralia #VolunteerOfTheYear #NSWVolunteerAwards

 

INTERVIEW REQUESTS

To interview Clare Collins, please contact Advocacy Australia. E: [email protected].au  or call 0414 821 957

For Centre of Volunteering media requests: [email protected] or call 0402 837 917

 

DOWNLOAD Images: https://bit.ly/NSW-Volunteer-Awards

 

 

ABOUT ADVOCACY AUSTRALIA - advocacyaustralia.org.au

Advocacy Australia aims to promote and defend the rights of victims of serious crimes and the families who’ve been affected by horrific circumstances such as murder, suspicious disappearance and abduction, and works to uphold their right to the truth, redress, protection and to be treated with respect and understanding.

The services provided are completely un-funded. All are conducted in a pro-bono capacity by Board Directors, Clare Collins (Chair) and Alice Collins (Secretary). To continue to provide support for victims such as Kristy Smith, funding is desperately needed. A registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission, Advocacy Australia has tax-deductibility status with the ATO.  To make a donation please visit www.advocacyaustralia.org.au  

 

ABOUT CLARE COLLINS

Clare Collins co-founded Advocacy Australia to address critical community needs including advocating for the rights victims of serious crimes including ten-year-old Bridgette “Biddy” Porter and eighteen-year-old Emerald Wardle and their loved ones.

Clare is the founding Managing Director of Insight Communications, a multi-award-winning full-service public relations and communication agency since 2008. Specialising in cause, culture, community and health awareness campaigns, Clare has received national and international peer recognition winning 17 Golden Target Awards (2010-2023) and 2 international awards to become Australia’s first PR agency to win an AMEC International Communication Effectiveness Award (2014), and was Australia’s first recipient of a Global Alliance COMM PRIX Award (2014) at the World PR Forum.

Clare’s multi-award-winning health and awareness campaigns include; Australia’s national Asbestos Awareness Campaign, Spinal Health Week, WorkSpace Week, Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the pro-bono campaigns; A gift like Nun other (for Timorese Nuns) and the national Where’s William? Campaign.

Clare has developed communication awareness campaigns and strategies for the RPA Transplant Institute, the Asbestos Education Committee, the Asbestos Diseases Research Institute, St Vincent’s Clinic (Sydney campus), Ability Options, Australasian Lymphology Association, Cystic Fibrosis Australia and The Big Issue.

A number of Clare’s campaigns have received recognition in Australian parliaments (state and federal) as having made significant contributions to communities. In 2015 Clare received an award from Crime Stoppers Australia in recognition of her dedication and commitment to assisting NSW Police through the Where’s William? Campaign.

In 2014 and 2016 Clare was a joint-finalist for the University of Technology, Sydney Alumni of the Year Awards in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.Clare has presented at national and international conferences including the 2014 World PR Forum in Madrid and at Australia’s biggest annual media and marketing conference Mumbrella360 in 2017. Clare has been a regular guest lecturer on effective campaign management for the not-for-profit sector at the University of Technology, Sydney since 2011.

Prior to founding Insight, Clare held executive positions with a range of not-for-profit organisations including the Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation; RPA Foundation; Northcott Society, Barnardos Australia, Inspire Foundation, Reach Out! and the Australian Consumers’ Association.

Having provided pro-bono support for the Bairo Pite Clinic in Timor-Leste since 2001, in 2011 Clare served on the board of the Bairo Pite Hospital, Healthcare Timor-Leste until 2013.  Clare was a founding director of the National Youth Theatre Company working in partnership with the Sydney Theatre Company and Global Creatures (2012-2014) and is a member of the Commutations and Public Relations Australia, formerly the Public Relations Institute of Australia.

Contact details:

Advocacy Australia: [email protected]

0414 686 091