This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Volunteer Services Support Program (VSSP), a program designed and delivered by Palliative Care NSW and proudly funded by the NSW Ministry of Health.
To celebrate the program’s 10-year milestone, Palliative Care NSW wanted to do something special to recognise the contributions of volunteers, and so the NSW Palliative Care Volunteer of the Year Award was born.
“We launched this award to honour the vital role volunteers play in providing care, comfort, and compassion during life’s most challenging times,” Kate Bowman, VSSP Program Manager said. “It’s our way of showing deep gratitude for their selfless service.”
The award aligns closely with the theme of National Volunteer Week 2025, which celebrates the tireless efforts of volunteers across all sectors who help build stronger, more resilient communities. Palliative care volunteers in particular dedicate themselves to supporting people with life-limiting illnesses, improving quality of life not just for patients, but also for their families and carers.
Following an independent review of a diverse group of exceptional nominees, four finalists were selected:
- Garry Richards from Southern Highlands Community Hospice
- John Curtin from HammondCare Greenwich
- Stephanye Holden from Livable, Grafton
- Kevin Stokes – Great Lakes Palliative Care Service
On Wednesday, 21 May, during a special event at the Art Gallery of NSW, which also featured the launch of our latest Post-COVID Recovery Report and the third edition of our Palliare volunteer training manual, we were delighted to announce this year’s award winner.
We are proud to share that the 2025 NSW Palliative Care Volunteer of the Year Award has been awarded to Kevin Stokes from Great Lakes Palliative Care Service.
Based in the Forster/Tuncurry region, Kevin generously volunteers his time maintaining a large inventory of essential equipment that supports patients, carers, and healthcare staff. In addition to this hands-on role, Kevin is a passionate advocate for palliative care and a key figure in the service’s fundraising efforts, helping ensure its ongoing sustainability and impact.
Colleague Jillian Hull shared:
“Kevin is so helpful with the clinicians working in the space, families, and patients. He does so much in the background with his advocacy and fundraising. He takes his little station wagon, picks up and maintains the equipment. He is also the cutest guy! He really deserves this recognition. Kevin is an genuinely lovely person – his smile says it all.”
In Kevin’s own words:
“Palliative care is a great cause. It’s rewarding because you are doing something for someone in their final stages. I get a buzz just helping others and making their life a bit easier with the little time they have left. I’ll keep doing it until I can’t do it anymore.”
Congratulations to Kevin on this well-deserved recognition, and to all palliative care volunteers who continue to show compassion, strength, and generosity in the most meaningful way.
To read more about Kevin Stokes and its contributions as a palliative care volunteer, please click here
More about the Volunteer Services Support Program (VSSP)
Originally launched in 2015 under then-Health Minister the Hon Jillian Skinner AM, the VSSP has played a key role in supporting palliative care volunteer services across NSW.
For the past decade, the VSSP has provided vital resources, education, and strategic support to volunteer programs, helping to build capacity and sustainability within the palliative care sector.
We extend our appreciation to NSW Ministry of Health for their continued support and funding of the VSSP and this award. We would also like to recognise some key individuals who advocated for this program and were involved in the early delivery: Peter Cleasby, Palliative Care NSW Past President, Linda Hansen, Palliative Care NSW previous CEO and Alex Huntir, previous Program Manager who conducted comprehensive research into the palliative care volunteering landscape in NSW.
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