Mrs Kayla Szumer OAM has spent more than six decades serving the community through social welfare organisations, leaving a lasting impact across multiple generations and communities.

As she approaches her 89th birthday, receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) has prompted a period of reflection. Kayla describes the recognition as both an "honour and a surprise," noting she never viewed her work as extraordinary - simply as responding to a need where she saw it.  

"When I saw a need or an opportunity to help others, enhance their wellbeing, bring them some joy, I did what I could," she says.

With a background in social work, Kayla has been instrumental in initiating and supporting a wide range of programs. Her contributions span the Shalom Seniors Group at North Shore Temple Emanuel in Sydney fundraising through classical music concerts in the Hunter Valley for the Quorrobolong Rural Fire Brigade, and a number of refugee support initiatives. These include the Learn English Holiday Program (now the Living Australia Program), the Sunshine Coast Graduate Women's Refugee Education Program, and introducing Queensland's Courage to Care in 2006, with its classroom program now reaching dozens of schools across Southeast Queensland.  

Despite the breadth of her contributions, Mrs Szumer is quick to emphasise that none of this work was done alone. She credits the dedication, generosity and diverse skills of fellow volunteers as central to the success of each initiative.

"This award is not only a recognition of my contribution but also of the remarkable volunteers who worked tirelessly towards our shared goals," she explains.  

Therefore, the recognition extends beyond personal acknowledgement for Mrs Szumer. She hopes it will bring greater awareness to the programs themselves and highlight the essential role volunteers play in supporting community wellbeing and strengthening social cohesion.

Her reaction to the news was one of joy and gratitude, shared first with family and close friends. She also reflects on her late husband, Adam, a Holocaust survivor who arrived in Australia in 1947 and was a constant source of support and encouragement throughout her work. "He would have been delighted," she says.

Mrs Szumer's motivation has always come from the people she serves, seeing participants engaged, connected and uplifted through the programs she helped create.

She hopes her recognition will inspire others to get involved in community organisations, contribute their skills, and even initiate new programs that respond to community needs. She also sees it as an opportunity to draw attention to the importance of ongoing support and funding for successful initiatives, ensuring they can continue to grow and reach more people.