SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australian Community Achievement Awards
2022 Finalists
Office for Ageing Well Tackling Ageism Award
• The Art Bus developed a community visual art program called Art Around the Table (AATT) in 2018. AATT is specifically tailored to individual psychosocial needs of older people that also nurtures their self-expression and storytelling through the visual arts. It is cross-generational and brings people together to make art, share stories, and drink tea. The Art Bus delivers the program weekly or fortnightly.
• Australian Refugee Association (ARA) delivers the Zimala Project to tackle ageism by bringing together and empowering older men in refugee and migrant communities. The Project connects people with organisations such as health information lines and government services. It also provides opportunities to explore new hobbies and connect through social games. There have been 15 excursions or group activities with 100 people attending so far.
• Kapunda Senior Citizens Club offers a non-threatening facility and programs where people can feel safe and reach their goals without fear of discrimination, especially in relation to age. They offer a choice of activities emphasising social interaction, including an art group, fitness classes, indoor bowls, the Founding Seniors group, Social Saturday, and other ad-hoc activities. Kapunda Senior Citizens Club works closely with the local council.
• Mindset for Life (M4L) was co-designed by older South Australians to challenge ageism by encouraging people to have an engaged and contemporary view of life in the years after paid work. From bitesize sessions to the full nine-hour program, it is based on peer conversations. Over 400 people have participated in the program and 200 continue to stay connected & share their experiences of tackling ageism.
• Embraced Inc presented the SA iteration of The Centenarian Portrait Project by Teenagers in 2022. This intergenerational arts program promotes intergenerational friendships, celebrates life at 100 and fights the negative ageing stigma. Embraced partnered 80 SA super seniors with 80 emerging SA artists, who undertook a life-affirming intergenerational process developing portraits of their centenarian subjects, culminating in an exhibition.
Jones Harley Toole Community Safety Award
• Sammy D Foundation is a violence prevention charity for young people and was established in response to the death of 17-year-old Sam Davis. Their “Monkey See Monkey Do Program” reduces violence on and off the field by bringing together junior players, their parents and club officials to participate in a violence Prevention and positive role modelling education session.
• Encounter Youth is a not-for-profit charity. They implement the Encounter Youth Hindley Street Program, a program that utilises evidence-based, situational and social crime prevention theories to increase and promote safety. Trained Encounter Youth volunteers patrol Hindley Street every Saturday night between 11pm to 5am. Volunteers provide responsible supervision on a peer level and report to SA police in moments of need or vulnerability.
• Holly Scott survived a horror crash in 2017, where she sustained a brain injury, shattered pelvis and more. Holly now uses her harrowing ordeal to educate others about road safety as the inaugural Road Safety Ambassador of SA Police. In 2019, she spoke to an audience of 8,000 secondary students at the RAA Street Smart High event. Holly is also a peer mentor.
• Women's Safety Services SA (WSSSA) Women's Safety Services SA (WSSSA) supports women and their children at risk of or experiencing domestic and family violence. A safety-first approach underpins WSSSA’s practice, ensuring that violence is recognised as soon as possible. WSSSA services include a 24/7 DV Crisis Line, Migrant Women’s Support Service, crisis accommodation services, Aboriginal-specific services, and integrated responses in partnership with services.
Ricoh Australia Customer Service Award
• Development at Work Australia Pty Ltd is helping create good leaders so they can create great employment experiences. Development at Work helps organisations develop their ability to attract and retain talent via the Attracting and Retaining Talent and The Managers Role in Retention Masterclass. It facilitated “Next Steps for Mature Job Seekers”, which aimed to help jobseekers aged over 50 and at risk of being on benefits long-term.
• 54 31 Collective is a not-for-profit enterprise that provides rural creators with a platform to showcase their locally-made products and services. The Collective was also set up as a community hub for locals and visitors. Hosting creative workshops, events, a place for locals & tourists to gather aswell as a Business Centre, which can be utilised by the community or by visitors/local professionals needing a space to work from while in transit
• BAROSSA KAYAK HIRE provides equipment and expertise for self and fully-guided kayaking, e-biking and hiking experiences. Tailoring delivery of the outdoors experience for groups and individuals of all abilities, customers complete an online pre-check-in. Adding value, they offer diverse tours collaborating with wellness partners, schools and community groups. Barossa Kayak Hire plays an active role in community events and development in the region.
• Communication eXtra is a specialised support coordination business for deaf and hard of hearing people. They offer a free advocacy service for the deaf and hard of hearing community to get advice when applying for NDIS. They have a weekly drop-in service, where they discuss how the scheme will benefit the new applicants long-term. They have serviced over 195 families in Australia since 2020.
• Chook's Little Winery Tours is bringing all wine lovers on their tours to showcase the McLaren Vale region. The business started in 2010 when founders Terry (Chook) McCoy and Kerry Mortimer felt the region needed a bespoke fun experience to remember. Chook’s work with guests to determine their preferences and sets the tour to accommodate and exceed their expectations.
Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation Innovation in Mental Health, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Award
• SA Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network (LELAN) has strongly advocated bringing Alternatives to Suicide (Alt2Su) systematically to South Australia after hearing from people with lived experiences of the need for peer-led, community-based support options for suicide distress and crisis. The first Alt2Su groups in SA commenced in September 2022. Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts/feelings could have somewhere to go other than their GP, therapist or the emergency department.
• Mentally Fit EP is upskilling people living on the Eyre Peninsula to be ‘mentally fit’. Mentally Fit EP provides a range of positive promotional, early intervention, and educational programs. The free “Take Charge of Your Life” and school-based “Mentally Fit ME” courses provide skills and resources to enable participants to better support themselves and to ‘flip mental illness on its head!’
• Taylor Anderson has written “Why don’t I have that?”, a children’s book aimed at reducing the negative impact of comparison culture on young children. Taylor has a lived experience of anorexia, an eating disorder, which was caused by comparing herself to others and over-exposure of images of ‘perfection’ in society. Sales of the book are donated to the Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation.
• Youth Opportunities Australia Limited has been delivering personal leadership programs and services to young people for over 25 years. Every program graduate receives two years of one-on-one support and workshops designed with young people to support them to continue to reach their goals. In 2021, Youth Opportunities engaged over 4,668 young people, working with 25 secondary and vocational education partners.
Rural Doctors Workforce Agency Rural Community Health and Wellbeing Award
• Mid Murray Suicide Prevention Network (MMSPN) was established in the mid-2010s following the death by suicide of four men in two years in the Sedan/Cambrai area. Some MMSPN members have completed training courses to assist residents and visitors, such as SafeTalk, Mental Health First Aid, and Youth Mental Health First Aid. In 2022, they collaborated with Country Arts SA in the screening of a mental health-related movie.
• Luke Higgins provides eyecare to regional and remote communities in South Australia. Luke has set up and run optometric eye care services for the Indigenous community health centres. Through his work in Low Vision care, Luke has provided blind sport classification for patients wanting to be involved and compete in blind sports. He also does charity work for the Royal Society for the Blind.
• Marree & District Progress Association Inc is a volunteer community organisation that provides social activities that assist with the local population’s health and wellbeing and gives stress relief from the ongoing drought and social isolation due to remoteness. The Association facilitates annual camel races, annual gymkhana, and weekly tennis and barbeques for six months to a year. It provides a worker for town maintenance and waste management services.
• Eyre Peninsula Community Foundation Inc created its Home Hospice Service to support the development of free end-of-life after-hours nursing care for terminally ill patients. After a successful trial, the Foundation partnered with Matthew Flinders Homes to provide clinical services to patients. The Foundation established the Eyre Peninsula Book Bazaar Charity Bookshop to fund the service. Seventy-six community members have accessed the Hospice Service since 2017.
Awards Australia Small Business Award
• You, Us and a Bus Op Shop Tours have taken thousands of savvy shoppers on fun tours with shopping discounts at Op Shops around metropolitan Adelaide. Partnering with charitable and community organisations, they promote awareness of the importance that Op Shops play in raising vital funds for the wider community and also how reuse, upcycling and sustainability helps the environment.
• Eyre Business is boosting economic resilience by upskilling and creating sustainable off-farm job opportunities for South Australian rural people. Eyre Business taps into the potential of underemployed or disadvantaged due to their location and exports business services from the regions to wider Australia. In 2022, Eyre Business partnered with its first major corporate client, achieved BAS agent registration, and more than doubled its staff.
• Ryde Clothing was started by Nathan Woodrow at the age of 16. Ryde recognises that brand is about community. Ryde now helps other business people and community leaders realise their capacity by sharing their learnings from the Ryde journey. Over the last year, it has diversified to a more sustainable business mode, developing the Ryde Design, Ryde Consulting and Ryde Summer Sessions.
• Sticky Pronk started as a school project to build a business with twenty dollars. Whilst researching for a product to sell, founder Noah Pronk learned that surf wax was made with chemicals and paraffin that harm oceans and reefs. Sticky Pronk was founded to provide all-natural, eco-friendly alternative surf products. They have sold thousands of blocks and gained 14 suppliers since 2017.
Community Centres SA The Loneliness Cure Award
• Morella Community Centre had identified a gap in local social activities available for men. They then began Bloke’s Brunch, an initiative that provides an inclusive brunch session where socially isolated men of all ages, cultural backgrounds, and abilities could enjoy a casual catch-up on a regular basis. Bloke’s Brunch is a collaboration with staff from Anglicare SA, who attend brunches and encourage conversation.
• D’Faces Of Youth Arts Inc welcomes young people to build their confidence and social connections through art. This year they’ve opened Good Nights, a safe space for young adults and teenagers to go on Saturday nights. Each week they’re invited to try a different creative challenge, and cook and eat together.
• Grandparents For Grandchildren SA (GFGSA) supports Grandparent and Kinship primary carers of children by providing practical support through peer group meetings, individual guidance and financial assistance. Many such carers are isolated, stressed and feel they have no-one to turn to. GFGSA’s experienced volunteers ensure carers are listened to, with all discussions facilitated in a safe environment through their state-wide GFGSA Villages or confidential telephone helpline.
• Kura Yerlo Aboriginal Men's Shed Program developed from the Zebra Finch Men’s Group, a grass roots response to concerns around the wellbeing of Aboriginal men in Western Adelaide. Throughout the years, Elders have supported Aboriginal men in learning how to make cultural items, and providing a safe place for reconnection with culture and community, reducing isolation and increasing wellbeing.
Woolworths Sports in the Community Award
• Adelaide Nepalese Cricket Association (ANCA) is making cricket sports available for all whilst giving back to the community. Some of their initiatives include an annual blood donation program, holding a cricket clinic for people with disability, and providing a platform to welcome international students into the community. ANCA also run a Multicultural Beach Cricket. From just 14 members in 2014, there are now over 400 members.
• Bikes Palya (Palya meaning Great in Pitjantjatjara) is a BMX program which has been delivered in the APY Lands and surrounding areas since 2005. The core principles of Bikes Palya are to divert Aboriginal youth from anti-social activities by engaging them in a healthy recreational riding to improve school retention and improve the health and fitness and community engagement of participants.
• Hub Gymnastics Club was established in 1985 by a group of volunteers to run a recreation gymnastics program. The Club has since embarked on delivering new programs for the community, allowing families access to professionally run classes with highly skilled coaches. They also offer school holiday gymnastics, after-school, and in-lesson gymnastics programs. Hub Gymnastics has around 750 members, with about 350 children on waitlist.
• South Augusta Football Club (SAFC) South Augusta Football Club (SAFC) is a community minded family club setting standards on and off field, 3peat winners of the Council Community Events, the 2022 SGL Club of the Year for a record 6th time and a record 5peat of A Grade Premierships. They have raised over $60k for various causes. They aim to be the most community minded club they can be.
Australian Dental Foundation Community Welfare Innovation Award
• Project Potential Adelaide (PPA) is a disability support service primarily focusing on children and young adults with intellectual disabilities and learning delays. It offers individualised programs for clients and their families, including interactive lessons focused on literacy and communication. PPA provides a learning centre in the form of a housing unit, where students have the opportunity to experience real-world living skills alongside academics.
• Determined2 is a South Australian health provider built on the foundations of lived experience. Their innovative service of Immersion Therapy uses scuba equipment to provide movement-based exercise and activities to people living with a disability or injury. Their person-centred, co-designed approach is intended to accommodate participants’ individual needs and goals while maintaining participants’ choice and control
• Kaleb Wilden introduced the NeuroTherapy Rehabilitation Program to service residents in the Adelaide Hills region living with acquired brain injury. The Program is goal-based and tailored to the individual’s physical disabilities associated with their acquired brain injury. Kaleb also produces educational videos that are readily available and free to access. He has serviced over 1,900 patients since launching the Program in January 2022
• Substance Misuse Limestone Coast (SMLC) is a unique organisation delivering health promotion, education, and advocacy across the Limestone Coast community, addressing the full scale of alcohol and other drug issues in the region. As part of our strategies, we partner with local, national, and international agencies to bring relevant, best practice resources to our community of 7 Local Government Areas.
Carers SA Carer Achievement Award
• Jan Wallent has cared for her husband, David, since he returned in 1967 from the Vietnam War. David has PTSD and has had other chronic diseases, needing full-time care. Jan was a Board Director for Carers SA. She also co-founded Partners of Veterans SA in 2003. She became a carer at the age of 6, when a relative living with them became unwell.
• Antoinette Edginton has cared for her 43-year-old son, Nathanael, who has an intellectual disability, Multi-handicapped and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. With the support of Antoinette, Nathanael has been able to live a full life, which includes working for Bedford Group for 38 hours weekly. In 1992, Antoinette became a carer for her now-deceased husband Wal, who was diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia.
• Callum Barrott-Walsh has been a carer for twelve years. He provides support to Jesse, his brother with Down Syndrome and a heart condition, and to his father with mental health issues and a brain injury. He has advocated for Jessie and facilitated Jesse’s inclusion and socialisation at school. Callum provides support for more than 60 hours weekly while managing school and community work.
• Stella Braund is an advocate for people living with mental ill-health and disabilities. In addition to her caring role, she provides advice regarding Mental Health policy, planning and safety on a range of committees for SA Health. Stella advocates for disadvantaged and vulnerable communities to ensure consumers, their carers and families receive appropriate support services and opportunities to live fulfilling lives.
Awards Australia Volunteer Award
• Christopher Wright is a 72-year-old volunteer. He spent 6 months cooking for 130 Volunteers during the Kangaroo Island bush fires. Christopher also cooks for the needy, including a homelessness Fundraiser for 220, and runs cooking classes for widowers and careers. A foundation member of Victor Harbor Men's Shed, Christopher helps others achieve more.
• Craig Scott is the President of Goodwood Saints Football Club (GSFC). Under his leadership, GSFC has implemented a Mental Health Early Assistance Program, where past and present players are offered five free sessions with a professional run by the Player Welfare Group. Craig has been involved with GSFC for 45 years. In 1992, he was instrumental in establishing the SANFL Inclusive League.
• Dawn Likouresis is a proud Adnyamathanha arrahanna woman who volunteers with the South Australian Aboriginal Football and Netball Sports Carnival. She also promotes healthy eating and healthy minds, and opens her home up for anyone to eat, sleep, or to sit and chat. She helps young people from all backgrounds to overcome mental health issues. Dawn raises awareness in domestic violence, the justice system, and substance misuse.
• Gill Golding is a hard-working volunteer. As Chairperson of the Hackham West Community Centre Board of Management, Gill is active at the Centre daily and makes herself available to staff, volunteers, and participants 24/7. She also sits on the Hackham West Children’s Centre Governing Council, Christies Beach High School Governing Council, People Matters Hackham West, and the Central North East District Reference Group.