Nicole Mitchell has been shortlisted for Volunteer of the Year in the 2023 AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs).
Football Australia nominee, Nicole Mitchell, has been shortlisted for the Volunteer of the Year in the 2023 AIS Sport Performance Awards (ASPAs).
Nicole, a volunteer at Tuggeranong United Soccer Club in the ACT, was selected and nominated from the group of community football volunteers that were highlighted by Football Australia as part of the National Volunteer Week campaign run in partnership with the Australian Sports Commission in May 2023.
The campaign celebrated volunteers in the Club Changer and MiniRoos programs, and the tireless work the volunteer community contribute to football around the country.
Nicole has done some amazing work at her club. In particular, her work helping establish an all-abilities MiniRoos program and leading the rapidly growing girls' football have been real highlights.
Dylan Deep-Jones, Club Development Program Manager - Capital Football.
"Nicole Mitchell's unwavering dedication and selfless commitment to our footballing community through volunteerism have not only left an indelible mark on Tuggeranong United but have also set a brilliant example for all. Tuggeranong being a 1-Star Club Changer club has set a shining example for clubs, growing and nurturing their Women and Girls football but also their commitment to improving the inclusion program they have launched.
"This has been spearheaded by Nicole and us at Captial Football are immensely proud of her remarkable achievements, which serve as a testament to the passion and the impact one individual can make in the community"
More about Nicole, in her own words:
"I have been able to grow the number of MiniRoos kids in the club. When I first took on the volunteer role of MiniRoos Coordinator we had roughly 200 kids in 2020. this year we had over 500 MiniRoos in ages 5-9 year olds. I also run the MiniRoos Kick-off Program for Tuggeranong United Football Club and averaging 100 kids in 2020,2021 and 2022."
"This year 2023 we have 300 kids playing in this summer program with over half new to Football. I am available to any parent or player to answer questions or help with enrolment any day of the week and I attend all Saturday game days for the MiniRoos Program at our home ground of Wanniassa and help out for the day regularly arriving at 7am and not leaving till 5pm."
"I have been able to help the broader community by organizing Tuggeranong United Football Club to donate some goals, balls and soccer jerseys that were no longer needed by our club, to a local school and presenting them to the school at an assembly (Charles Conder Primary School)."
"I have demonstrated commitment to the values of fairness, integrity, inclusion, and respect by allowing the kids to have a fun and safe place to play the game they love. I have also started an All Abilities (Kids with any type of disability) Miniroos Kick-Off Program so that any kid can play the game and also not be excluded. This is a program designed to allow any child regardless of skill level or disability to play in a safe environment and learn the game at their own pace."
