[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WACOSS and the Department of Communities would like to congratulate all the finalists and winners in the Community Services Excellence Awards.
You can read about the excellent work undertaken by the winners below.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion color=”om-accent-color-3″ active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Category 1 – Small Organisation providing collaborative, innovative or creative programs or services ” tab_id=”1512376715230-0d281ed5-c5a1″][vc_column_text]Our small, often volunteer-run organisations are the backbone of WA’s communities. Although small, they often make a difference to our lives in the biggest ways, providing essential and irreplaceable services. This award recognises a small organisation that has made a positive difference to individuals, families, or communities, through its collaborative, innovative, or creative programs or services.
WINNER – Befriend
Befriend is a Perth-based non-profit with a vision of an inclusive, connected world. Befriend was launched in 2010 after founder and CEO Nick Maisey met Tim, a young man with cerebral palsy, who was desperate for inclusive ways to make new friends. The organisation has grown into a high-impact social enterprise that has trained more than 650 community inclusion ambassadors and connected more than 10,000 people.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Category 2 – Medium organisation providing collaborative, innovative, or creative programs or services ” tab_id=”1512376715345-7be4f73e-33c5″][vc_column_text]Medium organisations are the quiet achievers of the community. This award recognises a medium-sized organisation that has made a positive difference to individuals, families or communities through its collaborative, innovative and creative programs or services.
WINNER – Tuart Place
Tuart Place is an innovative, participant-led organisation for adults who experienced out-of-home care during childhood, including ‘Forgotten Australians’, former child migrants, and the Stolen Generations (known collectively as ‘care leavers’). Services include counselling, support groups, life skills and computer literacy classes, family tracing, supported access to records, newsletters, warm referrals and access to pro bono health and legal services.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Category 3 – Large organisation providing collaborative, innovative, or creative programs or services ” tab_id=”1512376790550-f9cb348a-b876″][vc_column_text]Our large organisations have the resources to make a difference in our communities and often include iconic and familiar brands. This award recognises a large organisation that has made a positive difference to individuals, families or communities through its collaborative, innovative, and creative programs or services.
WINNER – Parkerville Children and Youth Care
Parkerville Children and Youth Care (Parkerville) brings about change, creating a new culture of responding to child sexual abuse across different government and non-government representatives, roles and positions. In 2015, with the support of the (former) Department of Child Protection and WA Police, the first Multiagency Investigation and Support Team (MIST) was formed, which now respond to around one third of all child sexual abuse investigation in metro WA.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Category 4 – Regional organisation providing collaborative, innovative, or creative programs or services ” tab_id=”1512376841461-00e7c1bc-ae09″][vc_column_text]Community service organisations are the foundation of our vibrant and diverse regional, rural and remote communities. They work in some of the harshest and challenging environments. This award recognises an organisation that is providing collaborative, innovative or creative programs or services to their communities.
WINNER – Youth Involvement Council
Youth Involvement Council (YIC) delivers respected and valued programs to empower ad build capacity in young people from 5-25 years experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Hedland and surrounding areas. Through Building strong relationships and trust, YIC’s programs have demonstrated significant improvements for the young people they work with, and the communities they are part of.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Category 5 – Outstanding Commitment to collaborative place-based services or solutions” tab_id=”1512376874763-f0f264e3-ea15″][vc_column_text]Place is the new frontier. Placed-based services and solutions are not limited to geographical location, but represent a community. Place is how engagement or involvement or change transpires. This award recognises an organisation that has implemented effective programs or services that incorporate community feedback and advice on place-based solutions. Place-based solutions cannot happen in a vacuum, collaboration between other services, business, or community members is essential.
WINNER – Save the Children for its Youth Partnership Project
The Youth Partnership Project (YPP) is a strategic project focussed on developing a batter youth early intervention model to reduce the number of young people entering the Juvenile justice system. It engages state and local government, the not-for-profit community sector and local elders in working better together to improve outcomes for young people with complex needs through a collaborative place-based approach.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Category 6 – Outstanding Contribution to improving the life in communities by an Aboriginal organisation” tab_id=”1512376904296-302b4512-be4a”][vc_column_text]Aboriginal community-controlled organisations provide change for Aboriginal people, by Aboriginal people. They are the living embodiment of the aspirations of Aboriginal communities and their need for self-determination. This award recognises an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation that has successfully delivered holistic, culturally appropriate services. An organisation that has created positive change for Aboriginal people, their families, and communities, through innovation and effective partnerships.
WINNER – Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC)
Gumala Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) was created in 1996 to represent the collective interests of the Traditional Owners, the Nyiyaparli, Banyjima, and Innawonga peoples of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Gumala is dedicated to providing services and programs that are sustainable through delivering positive short and long-term outcomes to keep children in school, maintain cultural connections to country and people, and take care of their health.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Category 7 – Above and Beyond” tab_id=”1512376941051-ca14d5f3-b17c”][vc_column_text]Staff in the community services sector work hard. This award recognises and honours someone who has surpassed expectations through their involvement in a community project, or own contributions to the community services sector. Finalists for this award will automatically be nominated for the Western Australian of the Year Award.
WINNER – Dellys Sice (from Manjimup Family Centre)
Dellys’ dedication in the sector began in the 1980s in the Wheatbelt, and spans Victoria, Tasmania, and South West Australia, joining the Manjimup Family Centre’s (MFC) Board in 2012. Dellys supported a review and modernisation of the centre’s governance structures, including strategic and business plans, the constitution, and risk management. On the side, she runs a volunteer counselling service helping people with relationship issues, and those working through grief and loss.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Category 8 – Excellence in Leadership” tab_id=”1512376967728-3b604040-00da”][vc_column_text]Leaders have the influence and inspire, to develop a positive culture, and to make real change happen. This award recognises a leader who has demonstrated great innovation and guidance in their organisation or community, and has contributed to the significant improvement to the lives of people and communities they serve.
WINNER – Dawn Wallam (from Yorganop Association)
Dawn Wallam is a Bibbelmun Wadandi woman of the Noongar Nation who has been making a huge difference in the lives of Aboriginal children through her work in the sector for 40 years. Dawn builds on Aboriginal Communities strengths through stakeholder engagement, proactively representing Aboriginal children’s issues at all levels. CEO of Yorganop, life member of SNAICC, and first Chairperson for NCPC, Dawn’s vision of nurturing children is central to every decision she makes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]