Minister for Women Tanya Davies today named Debbie Higgison the 2017 NSW Female Community Hero as part of the NSW Women of the Year Awards at the International Convention Centre Sydney.

“Through her volunteering work in a vast range of areas, Debbie is an uplifting role model who inspires others to contribute to the community,” Mrs Davies said.

“She is a very worthy recipient of the Community Hero Award, which celebrates heroes and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the community.

“On International Women’s Day 2017, the Women of the Year Awards recognises the many women leading the way in cultural and economic progress in NSW,” Mrs Davies said.

Debbie is a qualified social worker and has volunteered for the past 19 years in various roles. She is a highly respected member of the Chain Reaction Foundation team at Learning Ground, where she mentors teenagers for whom formal education has failed.

Debbie has also built a network of festivals and community events across the 11 suburbs of Mt Druitt, including Reconciliation Walk and Concert.

The Awards support the NSW Government’s commitment to building an equitable, inclusive and safe society where all women are valued and respected, can contribute meaningfully, and can enjoy the rights, freedoms and protections to which everyone in NSW is entitled.

The Awards are sponsored by First State Super. To discover Debbie’s story and the other finalists, visit NSW Women of the Year Awards.