2010 Community Services Excellence Awards Highlights
Community Service Excellence Awards 2010 Award Highlights
2010 Award Winners
Volunteer-based organisation category
The Older Women’s Network WA Inc - The Older Women’s Network Theatre Group, Thornlie
The Older Women’s Network Theatre Group was established in 1995. With limited budgets, committed volunteers and effective partnerships with other stakeholders, the group has successfully promoted positive aging in the community for senior women for 15 years. Theatre group members, who range from 60 to 80 years of age, stage productions and are writing scripts and performances for all ages, consistently discovering new synergies with new audiences. The group often takes part in intergenerational activities, performing to young audiences and sharing life stories through their scripts.
Small group/organisation
Rainbow Coast Neighbourhood Centre Inc ‘Mum’s the Word’ program, Albany
The “Mum’s the Word” Program is a fascinating Albany based program, that supports young mums aged 15 to 25 years. It is an inclusive, free program attracting young mums from diverse backgrounds and has won much evident community support. The sessions are supported by crèche and offer craft and art-related projects such as art journaling designed to enhance participants’ personal development. In session breaks, other agencies get involved doing presentation on topics such as child development, mental health and financial planning. Although the program’s budget is small, it is well managed and is achieving positive outcomes for young mums and their children.
Medium group/organisation
Holyoake Drumbeat Program, Victoria Park
DRUMBEAT (Discovering Relationships Using Music, Beliefs, Emotions, Attitudes and Thoughts) was designed by Holyoake in 2003 as an early intervention strategy to prevent and build up resilience to drug and alcohol use. It targets young people and adults, including indigenous youth and people with drug and mental health issues, who are particularly resistant to talk-based therapies. This creative and well-developed program uses hand drumming to allow participants to explore and engage connections between making music together as a group and development of healthy relationships. It has been embraced by many government and non-government organisations services and has proven positive impacts on participants wellbeing.
Large group/organisation
Community First International - Personal Helpers and Mentors Program, Mandurah
Community First International developed the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program in 2007. The program is a free service running in Kwinana, Rockingham, Peel and Lower Great Southern regions. It has successfully supported people 16 years and over whose lives are affected by mental illness, through its diverse and innovative programs. The mentoring inherent in several programs has been crucial and highly effective, playing a big role in recovery. With excellence service delivery management and monitoring protocols, those involved in the program have set goals and successfully been able to achieve them and reaped great benefits.
Regional group/organisation
Stage Left Theatre Troupe Goldfields WA Inc, Kalgoorlie
The Stage Left Theatre Troupe Goldfields WA was formed in 2007 by a group of enthusiasts with a wide mix of theatrical experiences. Together they developed a highly creative and innovative concepts bringing local theatre to remote communities through alternative facilities to traditional theatre. With a membership base of all ages, they have promoted change in the community and helped to reduce social isolation. Many locals are involved in their drama awards and festivals and in varied aspects of creating, producing and performing theatre. Stage Left is a well qualified management committee which has successfully overseen budgets and use of resources to deliver positive outcomes.
Partnerships category
Joondalup Youth Support Services Inc - COMET Program, Joondalup 
Joondalup Youth Support Services – COMET Program offers 15 to 19 year olds who are not suited to mainstream school environments, the chance to complete their Year 10 equipment and Certificate in IT and Business, as well as life skills training. Great work has taken place with at-risk and disadvantaged young people that attend COMET. They are receiving help to overcome their personal issues such as family instability, poverty, homelessness or severe and long-term bulling, and successfully complete education. Through a partnership with the City of Wanneroo and other key stakeholders including Centrelink, Juvenile Justice, West Coast TAFE, Clarkson Senior High School and the District Education Office, COMET meets the needs of a targeted group, with continuing demand a testament to its success.
Individuals category
Robert Reekie from Busselton - Mates Men’s Support Group president
Robert Reekie founded the Mates Men’s Support Group in Busselton, a predominately self-funded organisation offering a wide range of initiatives responsive to community needs around domestic violence, depression and suicide. Robert’s huge voluntary commitment, strong leadership and passion led to the development of niche community services for men in need. These include a 16-week anger management program, emergency accommodation, and 24/7 phone and counselling support for men in crisis situations. Robert, a big advocate in the fight against domestic violence, is instrumental to the success of shifting attitudes amongst men, encouraging them to talk about how they feel and removing the stigma surrounding some vital issues in the community.
Hesta Sector’s Choice Award
Uniting Outreach Busselton's The Match Factory Community Shop, a finalist in the regional group or organisation category, was voted by their industry peers as the most outstanding entrant amongst the finalists.
The Uniting Outreach Busselton provides welfare and needs-based services in the South West Capes Region. They build on their highly successful Community Shop and Outreach activity known as the The Match Factory, established in 2007. Their services and shop have addressed significant community needs, providing collection bins, cheap clothing and housing items as well as essential community support and social contact. Their community services are very much developed and run by local volunteers, with increasing numbers taking on active leadership roles and obtaining significant resources through donations to help keep the services running.
2010 Finalists Comments
The awards had a positive impact on staff, clients and the organisation as a whole. Made them look at what they do with a different perspective. Bunbury Pathways '92 Inc
The award gave all the staff confidence in what they were doing.The $5000 award went into running this year’s national conference. The Older Women's Network WA Inc
The award was acknowledged at the service site to help raise awareness within our client group. Mission Australia - Wattle House
We received more partner contributions due to the awards. Inclusion WA