The Andrews Labor Government is celebrating the outstanding volunteer efforts of Nika Suwarsih from Dandenong, who is among the nearly 60 incredible Victorians shortlisted for the 2018 Premier’s Volunteer Champion Awards.

Ms Suwarsih has been shortlisted for her diligent work with local Multicultural Women’s Programs for the past eleven years and supported many mothers and their children to successfully integrate to the Australian way of life and progress to better things for themselves and their families.

Minister for Families and Children, Jenny Mikakos and Member for Dandenong, Gabrielle Williams, revealed the shortlist of volunteer heroes, who will each be celebrated at the Awards Ceremony at Government House on 9 September.

During the morning, one will be named Victoria’s Volunteer of the Year, taking home the prestigious Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Trophy and $10,000 for a charity of their choice.

Twenty-year old equality advocate Riley Briese was last year awarded the title for his work with transgender people in regional Victoria, including creating the Wodonga Gateway Health Gender Service.

The Premier’s Volunteer Champion Awards recognise, celebrate and thank Victoria’s 1.5 million volunteers for the incredible impact they have across communities, services and connections.

They contribute more than $23 billion to the state economy, a figure that is expected to jump to $42 billion by 2021.

More than 260 Victorians were nominated for their individual and team volunteering efforts in every corner of society, from emergency services to the arts, sports to health, ageing and disability services.

To learn more about this year’s volunteers, or to find out about the Premier’s Volunteer Champion Awards, visit volunteer.vic.gov.au/awards.