Partnership Award: Di Lucas - Manager DV Counselling Program Jackie Kaddis - Community Leader Gold Coast Donna Justo, Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast Inc - Director Marica Ristic - Project Worker Multicultural Families Organisation and Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast
The Partnership Award recognises an innovative and exceptional project or activity, delivered through a partnership between individuals and/or community organisations which has contributed to the prevention of domestic and family violence.
Winner: Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast in collaboration with Multicultural Families Organisation and Acces Services.
For: the Healthy Family Relationship Project and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Community Leadership Program.
The Healthy Family Relationship Project is the result of a partnership between the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre Gold Coast, Multicultural Families Organisation and Acces Services.
This early intervention and prevention program aims to improve the safety of individuals and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, particularly women and children from new and emerging communities on the Gold Coast.
This multi-agency partnership has achieved several important outcomes including the development of culturally appropriate resources (including a DVD) focusing on women from Afghan, Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese and Persian communities in their own languages.
The partnership also delivered culturally appropriate community programs and worked with male and female community leaders in promoting violence prevention work.
More than 200 community members have participated in the community engagement programs offered through the initiative. Community members have gained a deeper understanding of their rights and responsibilities through the initiative and the support groups established for women to reduce social isolation and to provide a forum for information sharing.
Highly Commended: Domestic Violence Service of Central Queensland in collaboration with Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) Blackwater, Kids in Focus Central Highlands, Central Queensland Indigenous Development and Queensland Health.
For: The Woora Undoonoo Blackwater Holiday Program.
The Woora Undoonoo Blackwater Holiday Program is the result of a successful partnership between the Police Citizens Youth Club (PCYC) Blackwater, Kids in Focus Central Highlands, Central Queensland Indigenous Development, Queensland Health, the Domestic and Violence Service of Central Queensland and community volunteers in the Central Highlands.
The program used art, drama and music to engage with young people and promote healthy relationships. The program also provided an avenue to build relationships between the local community and service providers and led to the development of community resources based on the theme; A Better Way.
The young people involved created, produced and filmed a DVD and song, created banners and other art work depicting their ideas about finding a better way for themselves and their community.
This was the first collaborative project between the community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations in Emerald and Blackwater. The effective alliance developed between service providers, volunteers and community elders has been the key to the success of the program.
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