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6 May 2014
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Winners
Community Services Excellence Award – Volunteer-Based Organisation
Fair Game Sports Equipment Incorporated – Fair Game WA Program, Derby
The Fair Game WA Program is a health promotion and community development charity that
uses recycled sports equipment to deliver health and fitness programs to communities
across Western Australia. The program operates in disadvantaged areas, aiming to reduce
rates of disease, promote the prevention of harmful behaviours and provide direct relief of
suffering, misfortune, distress, poverty, helplessness and destitution. Fair Game WA runs
courses on how to avoid, overcome or recover from harmful behaviour, trains carers and
professionals in ways of dealing with harmful behaviour and disease and provides
information to the public and health professionals. Fair Game WA has developed a unique
learning partnership with students studying sport science, exercise and health at the
University of Western Australia. Through the program, students are given the opportunity
to participate as youth leaders in remote indigenous communities across Western Australia.
Community Services Excellence Award – Small Organisation
Teach Learn Grow Inc – TLG Rural Program, Crawley
Teach Learn Grow Inc provides tutoring and mentoring services free of charge to rural and
Indigenous WA students with the aim of overcoming poverty and disadvantage through
education. The services focus on consolidating knowledge and inspiring a student’s interest
in education to maximise their potential. One hundred and eighty volunteers travel twice a
year to 12 schools to provide one-on-one tutoring with every child for two hours a day. The
remainder of time is spent mentoring and engaging children with school, with planned
activities, science experiments, reading and games. Volunteers also spend time forming
sustainable relationships with regional communities, resulting in improved attitudes
towards education from the community. November 2013 saw Teach Learn Grow deliver
5001 tutoring hours in one week, free of charge, to schools most in need in WA.
6 May 2014
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Community Services Excellence Award – Medium Organisation
The Nintirri Centre Inc, Tom Price
The Nintirri Centre Inc is at the very heart of the Tom Price community, delivering a vast
range of services and programs through the Nintirri Neighbourhood Centre, the Little
Geckos Childcare Centre, the Community Health and Wellbeing unit, a Domestic Violence
Counselling and Prevention Service and the Three Year Old Transition to School Program.
The Nintirri Centre Inc. works very closely with the community at a range of different levels
to enable the centre to devise and deliver services and infrastructure responses that that
reflect the continually growing local priorities. This is achieved by direct and informal
communication with service users, an annual survey, use of social media and initiatives such
as the ‘Conversation Café’. The centre has just recently implemented a three year strategic
plan identifying priority outcomes and areas of change which will see the Nintirri Centre
grow and expand through till 2016 meaning new and exciting time ahead.
Community Services Excellence Award – Large Organisation
Rise Network Inc – Kira House Project, Midland
Kira House was inspired by the plight of a pregnant teenager with nowhere to go within the
2004 refuge system. Opening its doors in 2008, Kira House is WA’s first funded 24 hour a
day, seven days a week safe house for young women aged 14 – 18. Today the facility assists
young women fleeing domestic violence and operates with support from local and regional
businesses. It provides individually planned approaches for up to six families at a time and
includes basic life skills, disease management, and parenting. In some cases young women
give birth while at Kira House and they are supported through the whole process. Following
their transition out of the facility, support continues to be provided to help maintain their
tenancy, establish networks for safeguarding, continue to develop their life skills and ensure
their well-being.
6 May 2014
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
Community Services Excellence Award – Regional Organisation
Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre Association Inc, Geraldton
Geraldton Regional Community Education Centre has facilitated a number of creative and
innovative projects across the Midwest Gascoyne region of WA. These projects have been
developed through consultations and partnerships with communities, families, young
people and service providers. The projects are varied and have included; implementation of
a Future Leaders Program, a Mentor Toolbox for Employers developed with young people,
many of whom have experienced substantial risk factors; mental health and art workshops;
parental and community engagement programs and a civic engagement program for young
people disengaged with school. Staff at the centre say that working in the Midwest
Gascoyne is a privilege as they have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of people
who face the challenges of distance and isolation to develop skills, talents and strengths
that are often overlooked.
Community Services Excellence Award – Partnerships
Avon Youth Community and Family Services Inc – 6510Youth Program, Northam
Recognising that two services were providing disconnected programs from the same facility,
the Shire of Moora and Avon Youth took the proactive step of partnering in January 2013.
6510Youth combines expertise from both providers in a more streamlined and effective
way. One focus has been on school truancy and they have worked closely with all three
local schools, measuring attendance rates and implementing strategies where relevant. In
an area where education has not been traditionally valued, the ‘no learning no play’ policy
has been supported by sporting clubs, and an innovative approach to re-engaging kids lost
to the education system has also been successful. The centre also encourages youth to drop
in after school to provide a linkage point for further referral if necessary.
Community Services Excellence Award – Outstanding Achievement in Raising Awareness
of Community Services
St Bartholomew’s House Inc – Homeless for a Day Campaign, East Perth
This ground-breaking publicity campaign saw six Perth CEOs undergo complete
transformations with wardrobe and makeup to spend a morning as a homeless person in
Perth’s CBD. The powerful media coverage provided West Australians with an insight into
6 May 2014
Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
the homelessness plight in WA and provided awareness of St Bart’s mission to raise money
for a new social housing facility on Brown Street, East Perth. Coverage in The West
Australian’s Insider magazine connected the campaign with the business community in a
profound and significant way. With a $15million fundraising goal, St Bart’s has successfully
engaged with a leading property group, and made connections with other leading
corporations, all on the success of this campaign.
Community Services Excellence Award – Outstanding Commitment by an Individual
Esben Kaas-Sorensen, East Perth
Esben Kaas-Sorensen’s lasting legacy will be the changing attitudes to the homeless and
street-present young people, for whom his is a fierce advocate. His reputation for insight
into issues on the street and his capacity to build strong working relationships across a
range of sectors makes him a leader with integrity, innovation, compassion and a
determined approach to the rights and responsibilities of young people. Esben leads a team
of street-based youth workers who link homeless and at risk young people to the assistance
they need, and is making practical changes through the re-vamped Street Connect bus
which has refocused on the older target group. He also participates in fundraising activities,
community public speaking and works as an impartial grievance officer at Anglicare WA.