NEW SOUTH WALES

Community Achievement Awards for NSW & the ACT

2025 Winners

 

Group Winner Photo at end of the night

 

Council Crown Land Management Excellence Award

Kiersten Fishburn, Secretary, Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (Left) Winner Balranald Shire Council (Right) Connie Mallet and Kirstyn Simpson

Balranald Shire Council has transformed the Heritage Park Reserve, known as the Balranald Discovery Centre precinct, into a thriving destination for tourism, learning, and community connection. Significant upgrades include a $50,000 technology refurbishment of the Interpretive Pavilion, introducing interactive storytelling and touchscreen displays that celebrate local history and Aboriginal heritage, and the construction of the $700,000 Discovery Pavilion, offering flexible space for exhibitions, workshops, and cultural events. The precinct features visitor centre, museum and café that engage visitors and locals alike. By blending modern infrastructure with rich heritage, Balranald Shire Council has created a space that celebrates culture, fosters connection, and supports regional economic sustainability.…Congratulations Balranald Shire Council

 

 

Crown Land Management Excellence Award

Presenter Melanie Hawyes, Deputy Secretary (Left) Winner Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve - James Buchanan (Centre) and Presenter The Hon. Stephen Kamper MP, Minister for Lands and Property (right)

Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve Land Manager has restored its Reserve as the social and sporting heart of the small rural township. Managed by a dedicated volunteer Land Manager Board, the Reserve secured over $750,000 in grants to deliver major upgrades, including resurfaced tennis courts, new lighting, fencing, and an upgraded clubhouse with Wi-Fi and accessible facilities. It now supports junior and senior tennis programs, the town’s first women’s netball team, and community resilience initiatives through partnerships with the NSW Rural Fire Service. The revitalised Reserve has become a vibrant hub for recreation, social connection, and emergency preparedness, enhancing inclusivity, wellbeing, and pride across generations within the community. …Congratulations Bogan Gate Recreation Reserve Land Manager

 

 

Konica Minolta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Community Achievement Award

 

Presenter Andrew Ward, Konica Minolta (second from the left) with Winner Cherie Johnson and Speaking in Colour

Cherie Johnson, a proud Gamilaroi and Weilwun woman from Northern NSW, is an award-winning artist and educator based in Newcastle. Holding a Diploma in Teaching, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and currently pursuing a PhD in Aboriginal Philosophy, Cherie is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) in 2023. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Speaking in Colour (2010), Miti Nukang Ltd (2025) and non-executive director of the Yadha Muru Foundation. Her work spans sculpture, photography, and dance, with a focus on cultural storytelling. In 2023, she won the IMAGinE Award for Indigenous Curator of the Year and continues to make a significant impact on education, cultural revitalization, and Indigenous leadership.…Congratulations Cherie Johnson and Speaking in Colour

 

Caption by Hyatt Connecting Communities Award

 

Presenter Temara Exton, General Manager of Caption by Hyatt Sydney (Left) and Winner ShoreTrack - Paul Ireland (right)

ShoreTrack of Macksville is transforming how regional communities nurture the next generation. Founded in 2020, ShoreTrack supports disengaged youth by providing practical, trade-based learning and holistic wraparound support. Through their social enterprise STeps, young people can gain real-world experience in fencing, fabrication, and landscaping while earning wages and building employable skills. Over 800 young people have participated, with 91% of Certificate II students completing or transitioning into work. ShoreTrack’s partnerships with schools, employers, and community groups have strengthened local economies and fostered youth confidence and belonging. In 2026, they will open Gumma Place, Australia’s first trade-based special assistance school, further expanding educational opportunities. …Congratulations ShoreTrack

 

Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Small Business Community Ally Award

The Hon. Bruce Billson, Ombudsman (Left), With Winner - Global Sisters - Cherie Karlsson (right)

 

Global Sisters of North Curl Curl empowers women to achieve lasting economic security through self-employment. Since 2016, they have supported more than 8,000 women—including 2,463 from NSW and 206 from the ACT—to launch and grow micro businesses across diverse industries. Their programs remove systemic barriers and provide practical, long-term support, while initiatives like the award-winning Impact Roadmap©, mentoring, Sister Pitch, the Back Her Brilliance directory, and their innovative housing project "Little Green Houses for Her" connect women with corporate buyers, growth opportunities, and safe, stable housing. Guided by values of community, equity, and courageous change, Global Sisters is demonstrating that business can be a genuine force for good. …Congratulations, Global Sisters

 

Awards Australia Foundation Health and Wellbeing Award

 

Geoff Griffin (Left) with Stage Assist Isabella Czarnocki (Centre) With Winner - Wardell Neighbourhood Centre - Joel Orchard (Right)

Wardell Neighbourhood Centre of Wardell exemplifies the power of grassroots action. Wardell Neighbourhood Centre was formed in the wake of the 2022 Northern Rivers floods. Entirely volunteer-led, the Centre delivers trauma-informed counselling, therapeutic horticulture, food relief, and social connection programs that support flood-impacted residents, isolated seniors, and low-income families. They have provided over 2,500 counselling sessions and 3,000 food hampers. Their community events such as Wardell Pizza Nights foster inclusion and belonging. With over 50 active volunteers and a holistic, relationship-based approach, the Centre has improved mental health outcomes, reduced financial stress, and strengthened community resilience. They are recognised through multiple state and national awards. …Congratulations Wardell Neighbourhood Centre

 

Leadership Award

 

Presenter Bella Bain (Left) With Winner - Brad Ambridge (Centre) and his Son (Right)

Brad Ambridge of Goonellabah is inspiring broader change in how communities view and support children of all abilities. Brad founded Rainbow Roos, a transformative charity and community hub that’s redefining inclusive sport for children with additional needs across the Northern Rivers. Since launching in 2024, Brad has grown the program from one session to 25 weekly programs, plus school, preschool, and community outreach initiatives. His innovative, non-competitive model focuses on fun, confidence, and wellbeing, helping children with autism, ADHD, and other challenges to build skills, resilience, and friendships. Volunteering over 50 hours a week, Brad ensures all funding supports accessible programs and flood recovery efforts. …Congratulations Brad

 

 

Local Legend Award

 

Winner Elvis Danso (Left) with Presenter Sarah Chlala (Right)

Elvis Danso of Mount Druitt is empowering disengaged young people and strengthening multicultural connections. Through his role at the Mount Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency (MECA), he supports over 820 youth each year via school mentoring, soccer programs, robotics workshops, and cultural exchange initiatives. Elvis founded and led programs such as the Ubuntu Brothers Project and African Health and Careers Expo, providing vital pathways to education, employment, and wellbeing for African-Australian families. Known affectionately as “Uncle Elvis,” his compassion and hands-on leadership inspire confidence, inclusion, and hope in those he mentors. Combining professional excellence with tireless volunteerism, Elvis continues to shape a more inclusive Blacktown community. …Congratulations Elvis

 

Roy Butler MP, Independent Member for Barwon Small Business Award

Roy Butler MP, Independent Member for Barwon (Left) with Winner Macquarie Home Stay - Rod Crowfoot (Right)

Macquarie Home Stay of Dubbo (MHS) is committed to transforming regional healthcare access and wellbeing. MHS is a not-for-profit accommodation facility that supports patients and families from across rural and regional NSW who travel for medical treatment. Entirely self-funded, MHS reduces the emotional and financial strain of accessing healthcare by offering affordable, compassionate accommodation. Since opening, MHS has hosted over 13,000 bed nights annually, raised more than $600,000 through community fundraising, and engaged over 300 volunteers through programs like Friends of MHS and its guest concierge service. Their 2025 completion of the CWA of NSW Guesthouse, a 26-room facility supporting cancer patients, earned a Master Builders Association Award. …Congratulations Macquarie Home Stay