Huge honour for young WA nurse at Volunteer awards
Lancelin local Bree Del Borrello has a reputation for keeping cool in a crisis.
The enrolled nurse is known among her community for her calm and confident demeanour in high-pressure emergencies — traits that have made her stand out during her time volunteering for St John Ambulance.
But the moment she was crowned WA's Young Volunteer of the Year for her efforts, Ms Del Borrello admitted she didn't known how to respond.
'I did not expect to win at all,' she told The Sunday Times. 'I just thought it was going to be a really nice night, and then when they called my name I just froze for a bit.' Ms Del Borrello started her volunteering journey in 2018 at Perth Children's Hospital. Credit: Supplied
The 25-year-old has been donating her time and energy to St John WA's Lancelin sub centre since 2022 alongside her mother-in-law and her partner, Tyler.
Ms Del Borrello started her volunteering journey in 2018 at Perth Children's Hospital, where she currently works as a nurse in the emergency department.
'I'd always hear stories about the need for volunteers and it just felt fitting to give back to my community with the skills I already had,' she said.
With more than 1000 operational hours and hundreds more spent mentoring and training new volunteers, Ms Del Borrello's contributions, mentorship and commitment to public health through St John WA have made an extraordinary impact. All Winners, pictured with His Excellency Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia; Tina Williams Volunteering WA CEO; and Volunteering Minister Hannah Beazley. Credit: Supplied
Her calm, confident presence in high-pressure emergencies ensures the best outcomes for patients, while her leadership creates a welcoming and supportive volunteer community. Beyond frontline work, Ms Del Borrello educates the public on first aid, engaging all ages in lifesaving skills.
Her selfless contributions, mentorship, and commitment to public health make her an role model and an asset.
'It's such a huge honour, there were so many amazing nominations. It hasn't truly sunk in yet to be honest.'
Hosted by Volunteering WA, the peak body for volunteering, the awards recognise the outstanding contributions of volunteers and organisations across the State, highlighting their impact on the social, cultural, economic, and environmental wellbeing of our communities.
This year, 21 finalists were shortlisted from 230 nominations; with winners announced alongside special addresses from Governor of Western Australia, Chris Dawson AC APM, and Minister for Volunteering Hannah Beazley MLA. Ms Del Borrello has a reputation for keeping cool in a crisis. Credit: Supplied
WA volunteers contribute 400 million hours of time and create $64 billion in economic value every year.
And according to recent data, the future is promising, with West Australians under 25 volunteering at a higher rate (78.2 per cent) than any other age group — considerably higher than in the rest of Australia (70.5 per cent).
With studies finding that people who volunteer reporting higher levels of life satisfaction, Ms Del Borrello encouraged anyone thinking of trying it out to go for it.
'Don't hesitate,' she said. 'It's one of the most rewarding things that you can do, to give back. It's such an honourable thing and it doesn't have to be hours and hours. Everything makes a big difference.'
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