17th OCTOBER 2025 - LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY - NSW PARLIAMENT

Ms LIZA BUTLER (South Coast) (16:52): I congratulate Nowra's Laura Hefill, who has been named the South Coast Young Volunteer of the Year for 2025. Through her volunteer work with Sonder Youth, a South Coast based organisation that builds mental health resilience and community connection, Laura leads team‑building activities, coordinates camp programs and provides strong, ongoing support to participants. Laura's empathy, energy and commitment have inspired many young people to open up, connect and seek the help they need. Laura led the development of the peer-led project 4 Me 4 You to make mental health support easier for young people. Laura has shown remarkable leadership and compassion through her work as the driving force behind that project and has helped make mental health support more accessible and relatable for young people across our region. Laura's outstanding efforts were formally recognised at the 2025 Volunteer of the Year Awards. It is a well-deserved honour for a young leader making a real difference in the lives of others.