Ms Prior is the NSW finalist for Lifeline's Mary Parsissons Outstanding Volunteer of the Year award, an honour that she said was "overwhelming".

"I was thrilled and honoured to receive this award," she said.

Following a rewarding career helping others as a midwife and then as a teacher, Ms Prior became a crisis support volunteer after feeling a deep need to give back.

"I wanted to give something back to the community because I was grateful for the opportunities I've had in my life," she said.

"I wanted something that gave me a meaningful purpose and some[where] that I could make a difference."

Kathy said the crisis support training process was an amazing experience. "

It changed me, I've grown as a person since I've been working for lifeline as a volunteer," she said.

"It's taught me a lot about diversity and the power of listening, and how it can transcend all cultural barriers".

In her role as a telephone crisis support volunteer, Kathy answers phone calls from all over Australia from people who are in distress.

"I'm constantly amazed and inspired by the callers that we get. They have so much resilience, honesty and courage, and they are very generous. They all have the ability to solve their problems but sometimes just need a helping hand to get there," she said.

"I come away from a shift feeling so grateful, but also I'm inspired by the people I speak to; their courage to even ring up and seek help, and their honesty and courage to face what they are facing."

Lifeline's Newcastle and Hunter telephone crisis support manager Annette Cain nominated Ms Prior because she "holds the ethos of Lifeline".

"You ask Kathy to do something and she's there. She's dedicated, she represents Lifeline well, she has grown in herself, she's taken on the skill set and she passes that on to the new crisis supporters a well," Ms Cain said.

Ms Prior said she is thrilled to be nominated but can't help thinking of her fellow volunteers, "I have so many people in my centre who deserve it too, so I represent them".

"I'm proud to be apart of an organisation that is doing their very best to reach their vision to give everyone access to the best support that they can get. Especially in relation to suicide prevention," she said.

"I honestly never thought I'd be there for 10 years if someone asked me earlier. I stay there because it does make a difference in people's lives."

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