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Reconciliation Awards for Business
The Reconciliation Awards for Business recognise individuals, organisations and businesses taking positive steps towards reconciliation.
The awards are for individuals, businesses and community organisations operating in Queensland.
The winners for 2008 are:
Emerging Business Award
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Winner - Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd
Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd, through its research, publications, tours and museum, educates visitors about the union of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples for the defence of Australia during World War II.
The tours highlight how the Torres Strait was home to 8000 troops, airmen and navy and 880 local Torres Strait men who volunteered to defend the front line. The museum is the largest wartime and cultural collection in the Torres Strait, allowing greater insight into the lives of those who served together on the island. The museum and tours have already proven to be a tourist attraction in their own right, attracting over 5000 visitors last year.
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Highly commended - Silver Lining Foundation, for Ironbark Ridge Services
Silver Lining Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation providing work experience and on-the-job training for young Australians, particularly Indigenous Australians. The Foundation achieves its mission by operating small businesses which offer employment and training opportunities to Indigenous youth.
Only twelve months ago, Ironbark Ridge Services began offering services to generate employment and on-the-job training for the young Indigenous people of Cherboug and surrounding districts. The services commenced in the rural industry and now also offer services in forestry management and hospitality, with a plant nursery due to commence later this year.
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Finalists
- Kevin O'Brien Architects
- Northern Project Contracting
Established Business Award
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Winner - Westpac Banking Corporation
Westpac encourages all staff to live and work in remote Indigenous communities across Cape York for a one month period. Secondees work on specific initiatives developed by Cape York Partnerships and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation. Since 2001, Westpac has provided 50 months of secondment per annum and four annual fellowships.
Through its Cape York program, Westpac supports a range of initiatives such as Family Income Management workshops, Business Hubs program and Every Child is Special education program.
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Highly commended - Tom Kirk Indigenous Consultant
Tom Kirk has been delivering Indigenous and Cross Cultural awareness raising programs across Australia since 2000. The programs sensitise participants to the Indigenous cultures and take participants on a journey of attitudinal exploration through history, cultures, cross-cultural behaviour and actions.
Over 500 Indigenous cultural awareness programs have been delivered to approximately 10 000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to create more understanding, better relationships and acceptance. The program has now expanded to Train the Trainer workshops to enable further delivery of programs and greater community impact.
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Finalists
- Australia Post
- Sea World Resort
Community Organisation Award
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Winner - Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc
Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc (BIMA) operates 98.9fm, a 24 hour radio station playing country and Indigenous music, and Triple A Training, delivering culturally appropriate radio and multimedia training.
BIMA also manages a wide range of community development and communications projects that address issues such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing, land and sea management, legal rights, rural issues, parenting, and youth health and wellbeing. Most of these radio programs are broadcast nationally via the National Indigenous Radio Service, with audio and print resources delivered to local community radio stations.
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Highly commended - Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts, for ‘Reflections’
The Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts is an inspirational centre of excellence and innovation in education for Australian Indigenous performing artists through acting, dance, singing and music.
The 2007 graduate production ‘Reflections’, directed by Leah Purcell and supported by Queensland Performing Arts Centre, was a sell out, receiving high critical acclaim for the work of its 31 strong cast. ‘Reflections’ told a series of stories from Indigenous peoples viewpoints on the significance of the 1967 referendum from the perspective of 40 years on.
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Finalists
- Benarrawa Community Development Association Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group
- Queensland Folk Federation Inc, for ‘The Dreaming’
Partnership Award
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Winner - The Pelican Hope Vale Project: ANZ Bank and Pelican Expeditions
Hope Vale Life Promotion is a collaborative project between the Hope Vale community, Pelican Expeditions and the ANZ Bank.
Each year ‘Pelican 1’, a 62ft catamaran, and crew arrive from Melbourne to spend three weeks with the local community sailing, engaging, learning about turtle and dugong conservation, digital story telling, healing and leadership workshops. The project exposes the community, especially young people, to a range of people, ideas and opportunities upon which to develop a positive future for themselves and their community.
Its aim is ultimately to reduce youth suicide and crime, whilst bringing hope to the community. It also enlightens and educates business participants about Indigenous culture, the challenges of remote community living, the history of Australia and the impact of alcohol and welfare dependency.
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Highly commended - Queensland Health (Northern Area Health Service) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Directorate
The Northern Area Health Service (NAHS) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Directorate has been established to work in partnership with Queensland Health and external groups to address the priority health and wellbeing challenges faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Northern Queensland.
This partnership ensures that appropriate and effective measures are implemented to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by working collaboratively with key partners. Formal agreements are developed with groups such as:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Control Sector of Wuchopperen Aboriginal Medical Services Cairns
- Gurriny Yealamucka Aboriginal Health Service Yarrabah
- Mamu Aboriginal Medical Service Innisfail and Ravenshoe
- Mulungu Aboriginal Medical Service Mareeba
- Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service
- Apunipima Cape York Health Council
- Mount Isa Aboriginal and Islander Health Service; and
- Mackay Aboriginal and Islander Health Service.
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Finalists
- Ghungalu and Duaringa Community, Keeping Place and Cultural Centre
- Higher Expectations Program: Macquarie Group Foundation and Cape York Institute
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