From the Nominator

"UQ’s Alumni Friends were the first university alumni association in Australia and have supported UQ through fundraising and volunteering for over 50 years. They officially joined UQ Advancement in 2020 and continue to inform the strategy through their leadership board.   

A major initiative is the UQ Alumni Book Fair, led by volunteers who generously donate their time to build a volunteer community, recycle books and ensure any proceeds are directed to important causes. In 2020, the Book Fair moved from a bi-annual to an annual event. The revenue, volunteers and attendance has grown yearly.   

More than 110,000 books are prepared with over 400 categories, making it the most comprehensive book fair in Australia. More than 60 enthusiastic subject matter expert volunteers meet twice a week to sort, classify, price and pack books, then set up for the four-day event. In 2022, more than 100 student volunteers joined the Alumni Friends volunteers, with 4,394 visitors raising a total of $129,098 to support scholarships named in honour of longstanding Alumni Friends volunteers.   

Following the Book Fair, unsold books are donated to local prison programs and community charity groups locally and internationally, ensuring each book finds a new home.   

UQ Advancement work alongside Alumni Friends leadership and volunteers to provide support, including recruitment and co-ordination of student volunteers, marketing and promotion, event logistics, and stewarding volunteers throughout the year. This partnership allows the volunteers to focus on their work, feel valued, and connect with community members and fellow alumni who share their passion for books and UQ."

From the Judges

The panel was impressed by how the University of Queensland engaged their volunteers in their efforts and continued to evolve this initiative over time to keep it creative and engaging. We were especially impressed by the number of returned volunteers and how they were able to employ volunteers in this initiative across a broad array of roles.