Last week Ms Divine, 17, a volunteer respite worker for children with autism for Interchange Illawarra, was named Shellharbour Young Citizen of the Year.

The award will be presented at Shellharbour City Council’s 2012 Australia Day ceremony.

The Albion Park resident and Year 12 student at Albion Park High School was stunned by the news.

“There’s lots of other people out there who do the work that I do, who are just as worthy, if not more so,” she said.

Ms Divine began volunteering with the organisation at age 15, working with young children. Her brother Ray, who turns 20 this year, struggles with other conditions besides autism.

“A few years ago I wouldn’t have been able to interact with him like I can now,” she said.

“I used to (think) I was in a bad position, (but) now I see we’re better off than a lot of others.

“You look at how they cope and interact, and it helps you to interact and communicate a lot better.

“Seeing how people cope and how it (autism) varies from person to person; that’s helped me understand my brother a lot more.”

Ms Divine was nominated for the award by fellow Interchange volunteer and mentor Kevin DoMine.

In addition to her volunteer work, she will tackle her HSC this year, is a member of the First Albion Park Scout Group and an assistant choreographer for the Korimul Gang Show.

As for the future, she wanted to make her current line of volunteering efforts her full-time career.

“I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of family and friends, and the people at Interchange, especially Kevin,” she said.