24/11/03
An Albany woman whose fundraising and lobbying efforts over two decades resulted in much-needed assistance for people with mental illness has been honoured with a prestigious State Government award.
Hope Sharp won the top annual individual award for outstanding service made by the Department of Community Services.
At Rendezvous Observation City Hotel, Community Development Minister Sheila McHale acknowledged winners in nine categories of the Community Services Industry Awards 2003.
"The Gallop Government recognises it has a responsibility to ensure all Western Australians have a reasonable quality of life, no matter what their income or circumstances," Ms McHale said.
"These awards encourage groups and individuals who assist people in need, helping them to have a better quality of life.
"Hope Sharp is nothing short of an inspiration to all those trying to make their community a better place to live in.
"Just over 20 years ago, after a family member became ill, she noticed a significant gap in services for people with mental illness in Albany.
"At that time people who experienced severe episodes of mental illness had to be rushed to hospital in Perth, away from their support networks of family and friends."
Ms McHale said that due to Mrs Sharp's efforts, Albany now had Fellowship House day centre, a 24-hour support line run by volunteers, a community mental health team and new purpose-built housing for people with mental illness.
"Mrs Sharp's outstanding commitment to the people of Albany is highly commendable, as are the efforts of all the winners and finalists in this year's awards," she said.
"Winning programs ranged from a Beechboro centre offering a one-stop-shop of services for families, to an education program helping turn around perceptions of young people in Kalbarri and a community-driven project to rejuvenate the town of Lake Grace."
Ms McHale said winners were selected from more than 200 entries throughout the State. More than 40 per cent of entries were received from programs, services and individuals in the country.
The winners of the Community Services Industry Awards 2003 are:
Category 1 - Being innovative (small group / organisation)
Winner: Meerilinga Family Centre - Beechboro - Meerilinga Young Children's Services
Meerilinga Family Centre's innovative approach means that parents and children benefit from several unified services in the one location. The centre boasts the involvement of the Montessori Activity Centre, an Aboriginal Playgroup, the Aboriginal Parent Support Service, Parent Link, a child health nurse, the Kumon Homework Centre and the Wider Vision Crafts and Activity group. The centre has hosted women's forums and worked on cultural diversity projects including activities for NAIDOC week and Harmony Day.
Category 2 - Being innovative (large group / organisation)
Winner: Powerhouse Youth Services Initiative - Riverview Community Services Inc
A team of young volunteers with the Powerhouse Youth Services Initiative create and perform multimedia life-skills presentations at WA high schools, community events and camps. The presentations focus on topics relevant for young people including peer group pressure, decision making, goal setting and what it means to be successful in life. This unique program uses dance, drama, music and graphics to create interesting presentations, to help empower students with feelings of self worth. Young people gain life skills to pursue personal goals.
Category 3 - Developing communities
Winner: Middlesmarts - Theme B Projects - Kalbarri District High School
Before Kalbarri District High School opened two years ago, local young people had to move away from home for their secondary education. Without opportunities to interact with young people and teenagers the local community held a slightly negative view of them. Middlesmarts - Theme B Projects has helped turnaround community perceptions and everyone is benefiting from learning and working together. This ground-breaking program has seen students from years seven to 10 take part in real life projects including designing a future layout for Kalbarri and researching the town's history.
Category 4 - Strengthening volunteering
Winner: Volunteer First Aid Service - St John Ambulance
St John's provide more than WA's well-known ambulance service. Their 1,000-strong Volunteer First Aid Service is a State-wide network of people providing a vital link between the community and the ambulance service. Fully trained volunteers attend local and major events from Rally Australia, to the Big Day Out, Perth Royal Show and the Lotto Skyworks to provide medical assistance where needed. They also play a vital role in a crisis - staffing first aid stations during fires and floods and assisting with searches for people lost in the WA wilderness. Volunteers are well supported and learn to use the most up to date medical equipment.
Category 5 - Building the capacity of the community services industry
Winner: The Xmas and Winter Appeal - Charity Link Inc
By providing a collaborative approach to the Christmas and Winter Appeals, Charity Link Incorporated ensures that many people experiencing hardship are helped during the two busiest times of the year. The program provides a unified way for charities and community groups to fundraise by collecting, storing and distributing donated goods in a central location. Charity Link has nearly 100 member agencies that through last two appeals, provided more than 20,000 services including meals, blankets and Christmas gifts. By working together to reduce administration costs as well as increase support from businesses and the community, charities can help more families in need.
Category 6 - Building business and community partnerships
Winner: Leeuwin Business and Community Partnership Program - Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation
The Leeuwin Community Partnership Program has united many diverse businesses and groups in the single goal of youth development. Innovative business and community partnerships have significantly improved the Leeuwin's financial position and allowed many more young people to take part in life changing voyages. Last year, the program generated nearly $400,000 and significantly raised the profile of youth issues as a community responsibility. This program makes the Leeuwin foundation accessible to all youth regardless of background or financial situation.
Category 7 - Strengthening rural and remote communities
Winner: Town Centre Development Project - Lake Grace Development Association
The Lake Grace Development Association is working with the shire, local business and residents to provide employment alternatives to agriculture and boost the town's population. The Town Centre Development Project has brought the community together to rejuvenate their town through tourism and development ventures. With more than 55,900 vehicles passing through Lake Grace each year, recent community projects from landscaping, to public art and tourist services look set to boost the town's tourist appeal. The association is also looking at starting an aged care industry in Lake Grace to market the town as an attractive retirement location.
Category 8 - Enhancing management and work practices
Winner: Sitter Service Program - Activ Foundation Inc
Activ Foundation's Sitter Service program helps children with intellectual disability and their families, by providing short-term help in the home, while the primary carer takes a short, well-earned break. Through well-developed management strategies and practices the service is able to successfully match an appropriate volunteer sitter to a family in need. The program ensures a high level of care for families through detailed application processes, including vetting by police and an intensive orientation program. The Sitter Service program has been working with the community for about 25 years, helping hundreds of families and involving hundreds of valued sitters.
Category 9 - Outstanding service by an individual
Winner: Mrs Hope Sharp
For more than 20 years, Hope Sharp has been working hard to improve life opportunities for people with mental illness in Albany. People with mental illness in Albany can now access Fellowship House day centre, a 24-hour support line and the community mental health team. And, as the result of Hope's most recent project, the first residents are enjoying bright new homes in purpose-built Barker Rise.
Minister's office: 9213 6900
