Keeley Johnson (Murphy) scooped a hat-trick on Friday night for her charity work, at the City of Ballarat Youth Awards and the Ballan Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, where she won the young achiever award.

As well as the Challenge and Change award, she went home with the big one, the City of Ballarat Award for 12 to 17 year olds.

READ MORE: How Keeley's Cause has brought hope to autistic children through technology

Keeley's mum Sharon Murphy said it was a complete shock - her husband was sending them photos at the Ballarat awards while she and Keeley were at Ballan.

"To win three awards in one night, and being in two different places on the one night - we were awake until 3am, the phone was going berserk," she said.

"She's a bit shocked, she's excited - we had a talk, and I asked her does she realise that having these awards and being recognised, how important the work is, she said yes, I must be doing something good because I've just got these awards."

READ MORE: I Am, I Can, I Will: new campaign supports people with a disability to achieve their dreams

Keeley's Cause is a charity which helps young people living with autism, or other intellectual disabilities, access iPads to help at school.

So far, over the past 20 months, she's organised 96 iPads to help children in need - not bad for a 15-year-old.

The charity began when Ms Murphy recognised Keeley, who lives with autism, improved her schoolwork when she had access to an iPad - the devices are not funded through the Department of Education.

Now, through the charity, there's a waiting list for children as far away as Queensland, and big name ambassadors are coming on board to support the cause.

The other big City of Ballarat award, for 18 to 25 year olds, went to Sam McColl, whose volunteering has helped thousands of people across Ballarat - he's led teams at St John Ambulance, he helps out with the Lake Wendouree Football Club, and uses his skills as a venue technician to help not-for-profit groups put on functions at the Ballaarat Mechanics Institute, among dozens of other initiatives.

"It's quite exciting, I don't do any of the stuff I do for recognition, I do it because I like doing it," he said.

"There's a lot of skills you can learn as a volunteer that you wouldn't otherwise get a chance to learn - have a chat to a footy club, or an emergency service, you'll definitely be welcome."

Young Entrepreneur Award - Jake Sbardella

Sponsored by Upstart

For the past four years, 14-year-old Jake Sbardella has been volunteering his time to create and sell a product that spreads happiness and raises money for homelessness in Ballarat. To date, he has donated $11,000 to local Ballarat charities and has his heart set on breaking the $15,000 donation mark by the end of this year. From a young age, Jake was worried about the homeless and vulnerable in his hometown and wanted to do something to help. This led to him creating the Happiness Advent Calendars. The calendars feature a happiness quote to read each day in the countdown to Christmas to remind you how blessed you are in life. With the help of his mum and sister, he gives up his time in the July and September school holidays to make sure all of the calendars are packaged and ready for sale from October. Jake sells these calendars through his Facebook page, at markets and in local shops. For a 14-year-old, he is very focused and determined in raising as much money as he can.

Challenge and Change Award - Keeley Johnson

Sponsored by Highlands LLEN

Keeley Johnson created Keeley's Cause to provide children with autism or an intellectual disability with iPads for full-time learning in schools and to assist with effectively communicating and interacting with peers. Keeley herself has autism and an intellectual disability and wanted to give other children like her the opportunity to achieve academically and socially and to create better future outcomes. Keeley's Cause is now a national registered charity and Keeley has presented 89 iPads to children with disabilities, including 21 in the Ballarat community. Keeley has raised over $50,000 through sausage sizzles, fundraising, donations and iPad sponsors through volunteering her time within the community.

Group Project Award - Western Bulldogs Youth Leadership Project

Sponsored by Voice FM

The Western Bulldogs Youth Leadership Project participants have shown incredible courage, empathy and resilience in creating a picture book to promote the reduction of stress and anxiety in high school students. Often a scary and taboo subject, these students have demonstrated incredible courage at speaking out about the struggles they have faced in the hope of helping others going through the same thing. The young people in this group have spent the past six months learning self-awareness and leadership skills before embarking on their picture book project. They are very passionate about the role good mental health plays in a healthy lifestyle and they wanted to share their experiences in the hope of helping others.

Compassion and Care Award - Ethan Sculley

Sponsored by Compassionate Ballarat

Ethan Sculley started out making soup for the Soup Bus but wanted to do more. That's when 500 Feet was born. Ethan reached his goal last month of collecting 500 pairs of new socks for people experiencing homelessness. Using his mother's mobile phone, Ethan entered a global short film competition highlighting the growing problem of homelessness. This competition attracts worldwide professionals, however Ethan said it was "the perfect platform to raise awareness of the homeless situation" as every movie is uploaded on the internet.

Positive Leader Award - April O'Neill

Sponsored by YMCA

April O'Neill is an extraordinary leader for young people in the local area. After joining a youth group called The Field Trip - which works with, encourages and empowers young people aged 9-16 who feel isolated, disconnected and disassociated from mainstream society and opportunities - April soon became a paid youth leader and then director of the Daylesford branch, where she managed 15 young participants and five other paid leaders. April led with compassion, skill and was an incredible role model for the others.

STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Award - Tobias Soul

Sponsored by Ballarat Tech School

Tobias Soul has been an exemplary student in the P-TECH (Pathways in Technology) program at Federation College for three years and has optimised each opportunity presented to him. He participated in a community project where he collaborated with students and staff to further develop a Wozzle Bear Rush game for Child and Family Services (CAFS). The development of this game required a large amount of coding and Tobias took the work of students from a previous year to the next level. Tobias has also represented P-TECH as an ambassador. He has maintained an outstanding standard of determination and motivation to always do his best. Tobias is also able to maintain a high work ethic while, at the same time, being a good-natured person with a great sense of fun.

Influential Artist Award - Shelby Sherritt

Sponsored by the Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts

Shelby Sherritt has been studying social work and exploring the world of art therapy to show others how influential the arts can be on healing. Shelby has been creating happy ceramic pieces and building a community of supportive artists online to promote the need for self-care and time to spend doing something you love every day. With her work, she is promoting the need to be amongst nature, to pick wildflowers and admire wild animals. Shelby has a strong focus on using the arts to be mindful and to help others explore their own creativity. She is currently making lots of happy little koala pots and then finding Australian natives to make bouquets. This is helping bring recognition and education about the plants found in our own backyard. Shelby has created a strong connection of art, nature, healing and promoting her hometown of Ballarat through her photography of her art pieces.

Leadership in Sport Award - Zavier Anderson

Sponsored by Basketball Ballarat

For the past five years, Zavier Anderson has been a strong and inspiring role model. Zavier has worked hard to excel as an amazing roller derby athlete and has also inspired many people along the way as a coach. Zavier has spent time teaching, encouraging and supporting roller derby's newest recruits through the many physical and mental challenges that playing this sport provides. Zavier has been a leader at Ballarat Roller Derby League, both on and off the track. On multiple occasions, Zavier has been elected captain of the A Team, a testament to team dedication and the esteem with which their teammates hold Zavier. Zavier has used personal challenges as a queer and transgender person to ensure the community is constantly improving and doing better to be a safe and inclusive space.

Adult Ally Volunteer Award - Vicky Robinson

Sponsored by the Ballarat Foundation

Vicky Robinson selflessly volunteers her time and energy to see Yellow Ladybugs Ballarat flourish. Yellow Ladybugs provide support and development opportunities to girls with autism. Vicky set the Ballarat chapter up with her passion and enthusiasm and creates amazing event days where these girls can come together in a safe environment.

Adult Ally Worker Award - Pearl Goodwin-Burns

Sponsored by Ballarat Youth Services Network

Pearl Goodwin-Burns is the facilitator for the Youth Advisory Board of the Central Highlands area. This group has a diverse range of members and Pearl makes sure to not only cater for all of them within the meetings but to try to enhance their experiences within the community. She is always willing to spend time - above and beyond what she is expected to - to talk with them, to understand what their ideas are and to work with them to achieve the group's goals in a professional and personal sense. Not only is Pearl working to help the group be agents of change within our communities, she is helping each member to be the best versions of themself. She advocates for those with disabilities, physical and mental health issues, the LGBTI+ community, as well as being passionate about environmental issues. Pearl has a strong passion for justice and equity. She has also helped young people find employment and volunteer opportunities as well.

Youth Volunteer Award - Aleasha Kelly

Sponsored by the Western Bulldogs

In 2016, Aleasha Kelly applied to become a volunteer in the LARF Mentoring Program and she immediately exuded a huge amount of warmth and passion for working alongside young people. Always full of positivity, playfulness and non-judgmental respect for all involved in the LARF program, Aleasha has been a very successful and pivotal addition to the program. She helps with transporting the children and young people to the program, which is at least an extra three to four hours of volunteering every week. Aleasha's commitment often sees her turn down paid work to attend the program. She ensures that the young people are always feeling safe, having fun and feel comfortable to talk about any issues they may be experiencing.

MAJOR AWARDS

2019 City of Ballarat Award 12-17 years - Keeley Johnson

Sponsored by the Buninyong and District Community Bank Branch of the Bendigo Bank

Keeley Johnson's kindness, compassion and dedication has truly changed the lives of those who have the pleasure to know her. Keeley created Keeley's Cause to o provide children with autism or an intellectual disability with iPads for full-time learning in schools and to assist with effectively communicating and interacting with peers. She has presented 89 iPads to children with disabilities, including 21 in the Ballarat community. Keeley has raised over $50,000 through sausage sizzles, fundraising, donations and iPad sponsors through volunteering her time within the community. The determination of a young person to make such a difference for young people like herself with disabilities and give them the opportunity to achieve academically and socially is truly inspiring.

2019 City of Ballarat Award 18-25 years - Sam McColl

Sponsored by the Buninyong and District Community Bank Branch of the Bendigo Bank

Sam McColl has been a contributor to a range of community organisations. He has been involved in a range of alumni activities, including coaching in the Young Rural Leaders program, participating in the mentoring program and being a committee member. Sam has volunteered in a range of capacities for St John's Ambulance, Lake Wendouree Football Club, the CFA and by offering his technical theatre skills for a range of events. He also provides an emergency response during bushfire season to the local area with St John's. He is a Ballarat division training presenter and annually provides radio comms training, bushfire response training, and vehicle usage training to all Ballarat (and, occasionally, wider Grampians) members. Through Sam's work at the Ballaarat Mechanics' Institute, he completes many additional volunteer hours for causes that can't afford to have a technician at their event. Recently he has volunteered his services for the Headspace LGBTIQ+ Winter Ball and for a Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions film screening. He also volunteered his time over Ballarat Heritage Weekend to ensure that on-site performances ran smoothly, and assisted Ballarat & Grampians Community Legal Service during a training session for people who work with victims of family violence who identify as LGBTIQ+.

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