Sydney community leader Joumana Menzalji has received two major honours at the 2026 Inner Western Sydney Volunteer of the Year Awards, recognising more than three decades of service to vulnerable families, newly arrived migrants and multicultural communities.
Menzalji, founder and President of Sydney Community Connect, was first named the 2026 Inner Western Sydney Adult Volunteer of the Year before receiving the region’s top honour as the 2026 Inner Western Sydney Volunteer of the Year.
The awards, presented as part of the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards program, recognise individuals and teams whose voluntary work makes an outstanding contribution to communities across the state. Now in their 20th year, the awards celebrate thousands of volunteers representing organisations and causes throughout NSW.
For Menzalji, the recognition reflects a community service journey spanning more than 30 years.
According to The Centre for Volunteering, she founded Sydney Community Connect to support people experiencing financial or social hardship, with a particular focus on women, young people, older Australians, refugees and newly arrived migrants.
Her volunteering has extended well beyond emergency assistance. Over the years, Menzalji has overseen youth soccer and archery programs, organised guided tours of Sydney to help people connect with their new home, and shared practical sewing and tailoring skills with members of the community. Sydney Community Connect also provides guidance, social connection and cultural and sporting activities alongside direct support for people facing hardship.
Supporting Families Through Cost-of-Living Pressures
The award comes at a time when the work of Sydney Community Connect has become increasingly important for families struggling with the cost of living.
Earlier in 2026, SBS reported that the organisation was assisting vulnerable people, including refugees and those at risk of homelessness, through food relief programs in Sydney’s west. Menzalji said demand for assistance had risen significantly, with food hampers helping families redirect scarce household funds towards necessities such as children’s education and clothing.
The organisation’s work has also included support for newly arrived families rebuilding their lives after conflict.
In 2024, Sydney Community Connect hosted an event welcoming and supporting families newly arrived from Gaza, bringing together community organisations, health professionals, migration specialists and other service providers. Menzalji described the initiative as an effort to help families connect, access information and rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.
Tackling Difficult Issues Beyond Material Assistance
Menzalji’s community work has also addressed social issues that are often difficult to discuss openly.
Sydney Community Connect has developed programs focused on addiction awareness, bringing together community leaders, psychologists, doctors, lawyers, rehabilitation representatives and people with lived experience. The initiative aimed to increase understanding of addiction, encourage open discussion and connect affected individuals and families with support.
Her community involvement has also extended to initiatives supporting women from culturally diverse backgrounds to strengthen their leadership skills and become more active participants in Australian community life.
These initiatives demonstrate a model of volunteering that goes beyond responding to immediate hardship, combining practical assistance with education, empowerment, social inclusion and long-term community development.
Recognition for Three Decades of Service
At the 2026 awards, The Centre for Volunteering specifically recognised Menzalji’s 30 years of service supporting newly arrived migrants, older people and multicultural communities.
Her two awards place her among the standout volunteers recognised across Inner Western Sydney in 2026 and acknowledge both the longevity and breadth of her contribution.
Other regional category winners included Isla Costin of Kids Giving Back as Young Volunteer of the Year, Tony Finneran of the Stroke Foundation as Senior Volunteer of the Year, Patrick Quinane of the NSW State Emergency Service as Emergency Volunteer of the Year, and the Community Support Services Volunteers as Volunteer Team of the Year.
For Menzalji, however, the overall Inner Western Sydney Volunteer of the Year honour represents recognition of a commitment that has stretched across generations and across different areas of community need.
From helping families put food on the table and assisting newly arrived migrants to creating opportunities for young people, empowering women and addressing issues such as addiction and social isolation, her work has consistently centred on ensuring that people facing hardship remain connected to the wider community.
The 2026 recognition celebrates not simply a single program or achievement, but more than three decades of sustained volunteering — and the thousands of people whose lives have been touched along the way.
