Moree's Glen Crump has been recognised with a state honour for his dedication and two decades of commitment to bettering the youth of Moree.
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The Miyay Birray Youth Service youth worker was last month inducted into the NSW Youth Work Hall of Fame, as part of the 2020 NSW Youth Work Awards.
The Hall of Fame was inaugurated this year to pay tribute to the ongoing dedication of the people nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Hall of Fame honours the hard work and commitment that those individuals have shown over their professional career.
Mr Crump was one of seven people inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame, which he said was an honour.
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"To be the first person from Moree and the first Indigenous person inducted is a real honour," he said.
"I was quite emotional at the time because of the recent death of Uncle Lyall Munro - he was the person who took me to my first meeting and encouraged me to speak to councillors about issues affecting young people in Moree."
Mr Crump has been advocating for youth rights ever since.
He started by volunteering in numerous youth advisory positions, such as the NSW Premier Youth Advisory Council and the Regional Board of Youth Affairs.
At the age of just 12, he founded the first Moree Youth Council.
He was twice named Moree's Young Person of the Year and his fierce passion for youth rights has developed into a powerful career as a youth worker.
"I've grown up around youth affairs," Mr Crump said.
"I had really strong mentors who encouraged me to follow through and be a voice. I want to encourage other young people to follow through."
For the past 16 years Mr Crump has supported rural and Aboriginal young people through his work as a youth worker with Miyay Birray.
In his spare time, Mr Crump supports young people who are navigating the criminal justice system and juvenile detention space.
Mr Crump was also a pivotal member of Youth Action's Aboriginal advisory group which held the first NSW Aboriginal Youth Conference, bringing together delegates from across the state to develop an Aboriginal Youth Policy that was delivered to the Premier and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs.
"Glen is an incredibly dedicated youth worker who will go to any length of advocate for the young people he works with," Kelly James, who nominated Mr Crump, said in his nomination.
"He has never been afraid to represent young people's views in the toughest of spaces, and against the toughest opposition.
"Glen had dedicated his career to providing space and empowerment for young people and is an especially strong advocate for the rights and voices of Aboriginal young people.
"Glen is a tireless youth worker who is thought of as the person who is always there, any time, any day, whenever needed by his peers and the young people he works with."
As well as being nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award, Mr Crump was also a finalist in the NSW Youth Worker of the Year Award, while Miyay Birray Youth Service was a finalist in the NSW Youth Service of the Year Award.
Mr Crump said it's nice to be recognised for the work he does, but for him, it's `just "everyday life".
"It can be tough at times, especially the 3am phone calls to come sit with a young person in the prison cells when they've been arrested," he said.
"I just take the time to listen to their story and show them there is more out there to life and they can be anything.
"It's something you've got to have passion for every day. A youth worker never knocks off - it's not your average nine to five job. There's always someone who could be in trouble or need a listening ear."
The NSW Youth Awards is an annual celebration of the exceptional work of youth services and youth workers across the state. The awards are run by Youth Action - the state's peak body for young people and youth services.