Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award

Purpose:  

To recognise a volunteer from each Arc Volunteering program that made an outstanding contribution to that program in the previous 12 months.  

Criteria: 

• Volunteer made a significant contribution to the success of the program 
• Volunteer’s contribution exceeded expectations 
• Volunteer was an inspiration and/or support to other program participants  

Ben Rudzyn Memorial Award

Purpose:  

The Ben Rudzyn Memorial Award recognises volunteers who have made a significant contribution to one or more volunteer program over the previous 12 months. The award seeks to recognise a single individual that went above and beyond to service students and their community.  

Criteria:  

• The student must have demonstrated the following within the program/s they were involved in. 
• Developed communication and confidence through their participation.  
• Shown initiative in taking a different approach to pre-existing tasks or creating an original project.  
• Exceeded expectations through their contribution.  

Love Student Life Together Award

Purpose:  

To recognise an outstanding initiative (e.g. event, activity, content piece, campaign etc.) delivered to students that embodies the strategic pillar 'Love student life together'.  

Criteria:  

The most significant contribution based on the degree to which:  

• The initiative enhances student life. Its impact is measured not necessarily by scale but by creativity, impact on student experience, and direct contribution to the overarching goal of ‘loving student life’.  
• The initiative makes a positive impact in at least one of the following:  
• Setting students up for success with a focus on orientation and attention to new student needs,  
• Celebrating diversity, and/or Creating and delivering engaging experiences that enrich student life.  

• The initiative targets the wider student community or specific groups within it, rather than volunteers or staff.  

Be There for You Award

Purpose:  

To recognise an outstanding initiative (e.g. event, activity, content piece, campaign etc.) delivered to students that embodies the strategic pillar 'Be there for you’ that prioritises wellbeing and student support.  

Criteria:  

The most significant contribution based on the degree to which:  

• The initiative focuses on wellbeing and student support. Its impact is measured not necessarily by scale but by positive impact, and contribution to the overarching goal of ‘being there for you'.  
• The initiative makes a positive impact in at least one of the following:  
• Championing wellness in the UNSW community,  
• Encouraging participation in sport or movement more generally,  
• Enabling students to build knowledge and/or skills to support themselves and their peers.  
• The initiative targets the wider student community or specific groups within it, rather than volunteers or staff.  

Be the Spring in Your Next Steps Award  

Purpose:  

To recognise an outstanding initiative (e.g. event, activity, content piece, campaign etc.) delivered to students that embodies the strategic pillar ‘Be the spring in your next steps’, celebrating personal and professional development that ensures students flourish throughout and beyond university.

Criteria:  

The most significant contribution based on the degree to which the initiative:  

• Builds classroom confidence by creating opportunities for students to learn, grow, and interact,  
• Upskills students personally or professionally, translating experiences to skills, and/ or  
• Offers opportunities to boost early career experiences.  
• The initiative targets the wider student community or specific groups within it, rather than volunteers or staff.  

Maximise Social Impact Award  

Purpose:

To recognise an outstanding initiative (e.g. event, activity, content piece, campaign etc.) delivered to students that embodies the strategic pillar ‘Maximise social impact’, celebrating the impact volunteers can have beyond the UNSW community.

Criteria:  

The most significant contribution based on the degree to which the initiative:  

• Creates change on campus to increase social impact and make meaningful improvements, and/or  
• Supports the local and broader community to scale impact and drive positive change  
• The initiative targets the wider student community or specific groups within it, rather than volunteers or staff.  

Best New Initiative Award 

Purpose:  

To recognise any initiative that pushes boundaries, introduces fresh ideas, and adapts quickly to evolving needs and circumstances, enhancing the overall effectiveness and impact of the program on student experience.  

Criteria:  

The most significant contribution based on the degree to which the initiative:  

• Introduces a distinct, innovative approach to enhancing student experience outside of what volunteering services currently offer.  
• Demonstrates a creative and original approach to addressing challenges or opportunities.  
• The initiative was designed for, and delivered to, the broader student community (or specific audiences within it), not to volunteers or staff.  

Creative Impact Award

Purpose:  

To recognise content pieces, media, digital marketing, or other creative mediums as key contributors and drivers of positive student experience in volunteering programs.  

Awarded to an individual volunteer or contributor, or group of volunteers or contributors, that created content for a volunteer program. The materials must be wholly produced by individuals who were UNSW students, and active volunteers or contributors at the time of its creation, without payment for services.  

Criteria:  

The most significant contribution based on the:  

• Clarity of the content’s purpose and success in achieving its intended goals, outcomes and targets.  
• Creativity in the content’s creation and delivery.  
• Degree to which the content’s purpose has a clear connection to engaging UNSW student life  

Community Champion Award

Purpose:  

To recognise the vibrant communities created within programs. Specifically, an event, activity, or initiative that fostered positive volunteer experience, satisfaction, connection to the program and their peers, and aided in volunteer development.  

Criteria:  

• The most significant contribution based on the degree to which the initiative:  
• Showcased remarkable volunteer satisfaction and a positive experience.  
• Contributed to volunteer personal or professional development.  
• Nurtured a sense of belonging among participants within the program.  
• The activity was exclusively designed for and delivered to volunteers.