Now the 19-year-old has been presented with the inaugural NSW SES Young Volunteer of the Year award.

She said she was motivated to join the service after witnessing the 2010 flooding and decided volunteering would be a great way to help the community.

“I saw all these people in orange helping out so when I left school in 2012 I joined up,” Ms Heap said.

Her volunteering with the service inspired her to begin a degree in emergency management.

“I really enjoy this work and want to end up with a career in the SES.”

She said there was not one specialised area of the service or her training she enjoyed the most, explaining she took every opportunity as they came up.

It has meant she has a long list of operational qualifications, which included chainsaw operator, vertical rescue and road crash rescue.

There are about 1800 volunteers with the service between 16 and 25 and Ms Heap said the SES had a lot to offer young volunteers. “I have learnt a lot of new things, a lot of which is very useful even outside the SES,” she said.

Naomi Region Controller Andrew Galvin said Ms Heap was highly deserving of the accolade.

“[It] is a testament to Shirley’s level of commitment to the SES,” he said.

“She has demonstrated a diligence, persistence and professionalism that are beyond her years.”

Ms Heap was presented with her award during a ceremony at Parliament House on Tuesday.