Rade Pajic Recognized as Joint Winner of the 2025 Sir John Reid Community Service Award
In an era where community service is more vital than ever, Rade Pajic has distinguished himself as a beacon of compassion and dedication. As the joint recipient of the 2025 Sir John Reid Community Service Award, Pajic’s unwavering commitment to supporting vulnerable populations has earned him widespread recognition.
For years, Pajic has volunteered with organizations serving those in need, from individuals battling Multiple Sclerosis to newly arrived migrants seeking refuge in Australia. His work with the Serbian Pensioner Community in Keysborough, where he helped coordinate and oversee communal lunches, is just one example of his tireless efforts to foster connection among the elderly.
Yet it is his contributions to the Serbian Community Association of Australia that have truly set him apart. Since 2014, Pajic has focused on engaging with isolated elderly individuals, often traveling long distances to provide companionship in their native language. As a participant in the government-backed Community Visitor Scheme, he regularly visited residential care facilities, offering solace to those who might otherwise go months without a visitor.
One particularly moving example highlighted by his nominators tells of a man who had lost contact with his family. Pajic not only visited him in his aged care home but also took him to community events, helping to restore a sense of belonging. He also assisted in navigating the complexities of the aged care system, ensuring his friend received the formal support he needed. Even after the man’s admission to residential care, Pajic continued to visit him until his passing - a testament to his enduring commitment to those he serves.
Through his selfless acts, Pajic has provided more than assistance - he has given the invaluable gift of friendship. His recognition as a joint winner of the Sir John Reid Community Service Award is not just an acknowledgment of his work, but a reminder of the profound impact that individual kindness can have on a community.
A truly worthy recipient, Rade Pajic exemplifies the spirit of service, proving that the simplest of acts - listening, visiting, and advocating - can change lives.
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SIR JOHN REID
COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD 2025
Citation
Rade Pajic
Rade has been a volunteer for a number of organisations over a great number of years including Multiple Sclerosis, the Southern Migrant Refugee Centre in Dandenong and assisting the Serbian Pensioner Community in Keysborough where he helped arrange and oversee lunches. It is his volunteer work though with the Serbian Community Association of Australia which began in 2014 which brought him to our attention.
He has focused on engaging isolated elderly people, driving to many locations to talk to people, in their own language. As part of a government backed scheme called the community visitor scheme he visited residential care facilities. We know that many people in residential aged care do not receive a visitor one month to the next.
Rade’s nominator highlighted the story of one person whom he visited who had lost contact with his family. Rade didn’t just talk to him in the home, he would take him to community events. Rade also helped navigate the complex system for accessing formal care and support from the aged care sector. Even after his now friend was admitted to residential aged care and continued to visit until the resident’s death.
Rade has given not just the gift of connection and assistance to the isolated and elderly, but the gift of friendship.
A worthy joint winner.
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Catherine Baxter
President
19 February 2025
