WHAT ARE THE COMMUNITY WORK PARTNERSHIP AWARDS?

The Community Work Partnership Awards were introduced in 1999, to recognise and celebrate the many different partnerships that Corrections Victoria has with the Victorian community. Without the numerous partnerships which have been established, countless hours of community work would not have taken place; offenders and prisoners would not have an avenue to make amends for their offences, nor would they be given opportunities to learn valuable skills as part of their own rehabilitation, and reduce the rate of re-offending.
The Awards are presented at a ceremony, and attended by the Minister for Corrections, the Secretary to the Department of Justice, Corrections Commissioner and other Corrections Victoria staff, Department of Justice regional staff, community partners and stakeholders.

WHAT ARE THE AIMS OF THESE AWARDS?

The Corrections Victoria’s Community Work Partnership Awards are designed to:
1. Raise the profile of the community work program within Corrections Victoria and the wider community.
2. Recognise and reward the community work sites that participate in the Corrections Victoria unpaid community work program.
3. Recognise programs and initiatives between Prisons, CCS locations and the community that contribute to the rehabilitation and reduction of re-offending by offenders/prisoners.

DEFINITION OF COMMUNITY WORK

These Awards recognise the work of offenders and prisoners who provide reparation by performing work within the community for the benefit of the community. While offenders/prisoners may experience personal growth or improved mental health as a result of these activities, the benefits under these Awards do not pertain to personal benefit but to direct benefits provided to the community as a whole. Thus the primary partner/s in community work must be not-for-profit community organisations. Projects may also be assisted by businesses as partners, provided that they do not derive profit from their involvement.

NOMINATION DEADLINES

Nominations should be received by your Regional Director by 5pm on Thursday 11 August 2016 for consideration and revision requests. Note: For Port Phillip Prison and Fulham Correctional Centre, the General Manager will approve the nomination.
All final nominations must be submitted online by 5pm on Sunday 21 August 2016.

NOTE: Extensions will be considered by consensus of the CWPA Reference Group in exceptional circumstances only. The maximum extension period will be two working days (these nominations to be received by 5pm on Tuesday 23 August 2016).