2022 Achievement Awards

Australian Evaluation Society Award for Best Practice in Public Sector Evaluation

Winner: Evaluation of Parenting Programs Department of Communities

The Department of Communities (Communities) delivers three parenting programs targeted at parents/carers of children: Parenting Line; Residential Parenting Service; and Parenting Services. These programs assist parents and carers to address parenting issues, including sleep, settling, feeding, and addressing behavioural challenges, by providing support, education and counselling.

In 2021, Communities’ evaluators completed the evaluations of three parenting programs. The findings of the evaluations indicate that: the programs are achieving their outcomes; they are appropriate; effective and value for money; and key lessons learned were identified to improve the programs. The results informed a business case for future funding of the programs.

Special Commendation:

• ServiceWA Pilot, Department of Finance

Office of Digital Government Award for Best Practice in Digital Transformation

Winner: Smart Port Digital Initiatives Fremantle Ports

Fremantle Ports’ purpose is to facilitate trade for a more prosperous Western Australia. We understand that Ports of the future must be smart and digital to remain relevant and sustainable, and our ability to combine digital and physical infrastructure is going to be one of our biggest challenges.

Digitisation is a “game changer” when driving efficiency and productivity throughout the maritime and landside supply chains, providing visibility, transparency and improving reliability, allowing better data-driven decisions. Our submission summarises our digital exploratory journey, all the way to being a leading example among Australian Ports.

Business News Award for Excellence in the Not-for-Profit Sector

Winner: Noongar Mia Bidee – Noongar Housing Pathways; Moorditj Mia – Aboriginal Housing First Support Service; Mia Moort – Research & Advocacy Noongar Mia Mia

Noongar Mia Mia (NMM) is Perth’s only Aboriginal Community Housing Provider, recognised as the peak housing body for Noongar & Aboriginal people on Noongar country.

In under 2 years, NMM has grown from 3 to 20 staff, and undergone mainstream and cultural governance work to ensure robust, sustainable and best-practice growth in line with Noongar values. NMM has also led the way in reimagining the Housing First model to better address cultural factors, developing best-practice in how to work with Aboriginal people to improve housing outcomes, and sharing knowledge with other organisations for a more culturally responsive housing sector.

Special Commendation:

• Bold stride towards ending homelessness, Ruah Community Services

Moore Australia (WA) Award for Best Practice in Collaboration Between Government and any other Organisation (Gold, Silver and Bronze Winners)

Gold Winner: Safe & Found WA Safe & Found WA Team

Safe & Found WA is an initiative introduced by Western Australia Police Force and Australia Medic Alert Foundation.

Safe & Found supports people living with a cognitive impairment who might be at risk of becoming lost or reported as missing, by ensuring Police have immediate access to critical information to assist when undertaking search operations.

A detailed profile outlining personal history and characteristics is completed and kept securely along with a recent photo, on the Safe & Found database for Police to access in an emergency. A Safe & Found ID bracelet is included in the membership to protect members.

Silver Winner: Aboriginal COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative WA COVID-19 Vaccination Program

The WACVP Aboriginal COVID-19 Vaccination Initiative was established to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccinations for Aboriginal people across WA. Collaboration with non-Government organisations, community engagement and support, targeted strategies, resources and campaigns enabled a high uptake of the vaccine amongst Aboriginal people. To date, 82.2% of Aboriginal people aged 16+ in WA have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and 76.4% have received their second dose.

As a result of the successful partnerships developed with local community organisations, Community Leaders and Aboriginal Elders, Aboriginal COVID-19 vaccination rates in WA are one of the highest levels nation-wide..

Bronze Winner: Little Fulla Yarns – Better Beginnings Family Literacy Program State Library of Western Australia  

Little Fulla Yarns is an early literacy program developed by Better Beginnings at the State Library of Western Australia which aims to provide Aboriginal families and communities with the tools and resources to embed early literacy skills and practices into daily life, in ways that reflect both Aboriginal and Western styles of learning.

Through extensive consultation with key community stakeholders, the program provides targeted resources which support Aboriginal families to build their child’s early literacy and language skills; skills that will be critical for future success at school and later in life.

Special Commendations:

• 2021 Toyota AFL Grand Final, VenuesWest; et al.
• Nature Play WA, Nature Play WA; Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
• The Housing Stability Project, Anglicare WA; DMIRS(Consumer Protection Division)

Australia Post Award for Best Practice in Collaboration Across Government Agencies (Gold, Silver and Bronze Winners)

Gold Winner: ServiceWA App Department of the Premier and Cabinet; Health Support Services; Department of Finance; WA Police Force

The ServiceWA App, developed through multi-agency collaboration between the Department of the Premier and Cabinet and Health Support Services, Department of Finance and the WA Police Force, was deployed to facilitate the State’s Transition Plan to ease border controls. Utilising whole of government capabilities, the App provided people with the ability to check-in, provide proof of vaccination, and travel to WA in a safe, secure and seamless way.

The App allows users to access various Government services in one convenient location, and services available through the app will continue to be expanded into the future.

Silver Winner: Pre-birth Planning Pilot Program Department of Communities; King Edward Memorial Hospital; Fiona Stanley Hospital

The Pre-birth Planning Project is an innovative collaboration between Department of Communities, King Edward Memorial Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital that plans prenatally for the safety of newborn vulnerable babies.

The program was designed to bring families together with their own safety network, child protection workers and child health professionals to promote the safety, wellbeing and health of at-risk unborn infants and where possible, prevent newborn infants entering the care of the CEO of Communities from birth. The pilot has received positive feedback and remarkable results with a marked decrease in the number of children entering care.

Bronze Winner: Compass Engagement Program Department of Education – The Southwest Education Region

Students who engage in regular education from Kindergarten to Year 12 have access to the preconditions for success in contributing to society positively.

Throughout a child’s educational pathway, three critical transition points require internal familial support or external interagency support to maintain positive educational momentum.

1. Kindergarten to Year 1
2. Year 6 to Year 7; and
3. Year 9 through to Senior Secondary.

The Compass Engagement Program is an innovative place-based initiative that delivers case management across years 6 to 10. Compass’ holistic lens delivers cross-agency commitment to every student, improving efficiency in addressing barriers to school engagement.

Best Practice in Corporate Social Values

Winner: Outback Way Main Roads WA

The Outback Way project has delivered outstanding achievements in remote regional road upgrades, whilst also providing employment opportunities for local Aboriginal people, to work on country. This project exceeded employment targets set, and has provided sustainable career opportunities for local people.

Special Commendation:

• Tracks to Two-Way Learning, Department of Education

Department of Health Award for Best Practice in Health and Wellbeing

Winner: Cockburn Aboriginal Ear Health Program Cockburn Integrated Health and Partners

Cockburn Integrated Health, in partnership with Telethon Kids Institute, Moorditj Koort Aboriginal Corporation, Telethon Speech and Hearing, Hearing Australia, Child and Adolescent Community Health, Dr George Sim, Dr Francis Lannigan, St John of God Murdoch and Rockingham Hospital

The Cockburn Aboriginal Ear Health Program was established to provide timely, free and culturally secure access to ear health services to Aboriginal children rather than waiting for care on long Public Health waitlists. Data reported nationally suggests that Aboriginal children are 5 times more likely to develop chronic middle ear disease than non-Aboriginal children. This can lead to hearing loss which impacts on speech development and subsequent learning delay. Aboriginal children referred to the Cockburn program are seen within a month as compared to the up to a three year wait through the Public Health System.

Special Commendation:

• Aboriginal Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Health Service

Lotterywest Award for  Best Practice in LGBTI Inclusion

Winner: SHQ Queer and Ally Working Group Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ)

Sexual Health Quarters (SHQs) Queer and Ally Working Group is designed to be a space for the organisation to draw on the experiences of LGBTI+ and Ally staff and is comprised of individuals across all departments and makes recommendations on SHQ activities, documents, and practices. Over the past 12 months, the Group has focused on guiding and successfully leading the organisation to achieve Rainbow Tick Accreditation. Being accredited against Rainbow Tick Standards outwardly demonstrates the organisation’s commitment to ensuring we are a safe and inclusive service provider and employer for members of the LGBTI+ community.

Commissioner for Children and Young People Award for Best Practice in Children’s Consultation (Two winners)

Winner: Talk N Walk Nature Play WA  

Through delivery of the Talk N Walk project Nature Play WA has consulted a diverse cohort of 103 children and young people to develop an innovative, scalable, digital solution to the dramatic drop-off in physical activity amongst 11–14-year-old-girls that’s affecting their mental and physical health.

Through co-design and piloting of the Talk N Walk app, we asked 11-14-year-old girls what’s important to them and why they aren’t more active, we listened to what they had to say and we empowered them to work with us to create a solution.

Winner: The Sun Safe Project Telethon Kids Institute  

The team have recently developed an iOS smartphone app (Sun Safe) with significant consultation and input by young teenagers (aged 12–13 years). Sun Safe flexibly links features (e.g., sun health knowledge) requested by young people with a health promotion message of using sun protection when the UV Index is ≥3, as perpetuated by Cancer Councils WA. The inclusive co-design process underpinning Sun Safe produced an app that is useful, relevant, and accepted by young people. We have recently found that young teenagers (12–13 years) living in Perth who used Sun Safe, increased their knowledge of the UV Index..

Special Commendation:

• Balga Teen Family Education Program, Sexual Health Quarters

Best Practice in Innovation (Two winners in General category and Two winners in COVID Response category)

General Category Winner: My Bushfire Plan Department of Fire and Emergency Services Media and Corporate Communications

To help the community better prepare and keep themselves, their loved ones, and properties safe when a bushfire strikes, DFES launched the My Bushfire Plan website and companion app to make it simple for Western Australians to make a customised bushfire plan for the whole family.

Guiding users through the creation of a plan in easy-to-follow steps, the locally developed app helps communities take action and avoid making last minute decisions that could prove deadly during a bushfire. The app is easy to use, includes enhanced visual prompts, drop-down fields, and the ability to create multiple plans per use.

General Category Winner: The Wajarri Language Program  Beachlands Primary School  

The Beachlands Primary School Wajarri Language Program is an innovative approach for embedding Aboriginal Language and culture revival in a mainstream school setting. Demonstrating a commitment to best practices in Aboriginal education to achieve successful outcomes for all students is at the centre of the school’s improvement agenda..

COVID Response Category Winner: Keeping our schools open

Department of Education

Term 1 saw approximately 5,500 school-based staff in isolation after either testing positive to COVID-19 or becoming a close contact to someone with COVID-19. This saw a devastating level of employee absence with significant stress placed on remaining school-based staff to keep the learning going.

The COVID-19 Staffing Response team was established to plan and implement a strategy that addressed staff shortages across our 800 plus schools.

COVID Response Category Winner: Legal Aid WA Covid Duty Lawyer Hubs

Legal Aid Commission Western Australia

In early 2022 in anticipation of the opening of Western Australia’s borders, Legal Aid WA adopted a Duty Lawyer Hub service delivery model in order to ensure ongoing access to justice for some of Western Australia’s most vulnerable clients.

Our large duty lawyer team servicing over 60 court lists a week in the wider Perth metropolitan area and Mandurah were split into four smaller dedicated legal teams that each included separate administrative and paralegal support. Through excellent collaboration this service has continued to deliver quality duty lawyer services during periods of extreme stress and unprecedented staff shortages.

Special Commendations:

• Peel Therapeutic Women’s Refuge, Warlang Bidi, Department of Communities
• Housing and Assets Spot Purchasing Program, Department of Communities