Two Pakistani-Australian women receive Premier’s Volunteer Champion award in Victoria

Two Victorian women were recognised for their volunteer work and were presented with Premier’s volunteer champion award this year. Find out more in the podcast on who these women are and what they are doing for the community.

Batul Gulani & Anam Javed at 2019 Premier's Volunteer Champions Awards in Victoria. Source: Supplied

International Volunteer Day is held each year on the 5^th of December. It is an initiative for volunteers and organisations to come together to celebrate their achievements and promote work among their communities.

This year the seventh ceremony of Premier’s Volunteer Champion Awards was hosted at the Government house leading up to International Volunteer Day.

57 Victorians were recognised for their unwavering passion, commitment and dedication to others at award ceremony.

Batul Fatima Gulani, a psychotherapist by profession and community worker by passion was recognised for her leadership role.

Her dedication to the community has been essential in helping Shia Muslim communities integrate with the broader Australian society.

While talking to SBS Urdu Mrs Gulani said that she moved to Australia over 20 years ago and got involved in the community.   

“Over time I decided to leave my full-time job and spend more time doing community and volunteer work.

“Over the years we have had a lot of success and continue to hold festivals, events to help people integrate into the broader Australian society while adhering to their values and beliefs,” said Mrs Gulani.

Batul Gulani (2nd from right) at 2019 Victorian Premier's Volunteer Champions Awards Source: Supplied

Anam Javed has been volunteering since she came to Australia in 2007. Community work has been a great part of her student and professional life.

She was awarded under the service category for providing ongoing help and support services for the community.

Mrs Javed told SBS Urdu that “this award means much more to my parents that it does to me.”

“I came here to study and my parents have always been worried about the amount of volunteer work that I do.

“But I think the award was necessary to show them, that there are benefits of helping people,” said Mrs Javed.

Anam Javed at 2019 Premier's Volunteer Champions Awards. Source: Facebook

More than 1.5 million Victorians volunteer their time, skills and experience - making a huge contribution to the local community.  

It is estimated that the contribution to the Victorian economy by volunteers will be worth up to $42 billion by 2021.

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