Minister announces safer communities winners

The 2011 Australian Safer Communities Awards recognise innovative practices and achievements across the nation that are making our communities safer, stronger, more disaster resilient and better prepared to manage any emergency situation.

"Now in their 12th year, the Awards showcase our country's expertise and experience in preventing, planning for and responding to natural disasters and other emergencies," Minister Gallacher said.

"We have already seen and experienced the benefits of a coordinated, collaborative system in some of the natural disasters that recently hit the state," Minister Gallacher said.

The 2011 NSW winners are the NSW Rural Fire Service, Campbelltown City Council, Ambulance Service of NSW and NSW State Emergency Service. These organisations' four projects are now the NSW finalists in the national competition to be announced later this year.

Canyonleigh Rural Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service of NSW and Goodooga Community Working Party have also been commended for their projects.

"All these organisations are to be congratulated for their work to help develop and maintain sustainable communities," Minister Gallacher said.

 "It's also important to recognise the great work our emergency services agencies do to educate the public about disaster risks – ultimately making this state safer and more prepared for emergencies when they do occur," Minister Gallacher concluded.

The Australian Safer Communities Awards are sponsored by the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, in conjunction with States and Territories.

 The NSW recipients of the 2011 Australian Safer Communities Awards

 Hotspots Fire Project – NSW Rural Fire Service. The project is a training program which provides landholders and land managers with the skills and knowledge to actively and collectively participate in fire management ensuring healthy productive landscapes in which risk is managed, communities are safe and biodiversity is maintained. 

Campbelltown Home Emergency Kit – Campbelltown City Council. The Home Emergency Kit contains information and brochures from each of the emergency services agencies, including NSW Rural Fire Service, NSW Fire and Rescue, the State Emergency Service, NSW Ambulance Service and NSW Police, as well as the Australian Red Cross and Campbelltown City Council. The information explains how to prepare for a broad range of emergencies such as a flood, storm, bushfire or fire. 

Calling an Ambulance Migrant Education Program – Ambulance Service of NSW. The aim of the project is to assist newly arrived migrants and refugees are understand that the number to call in a medical emergency is Triple Zero (000) and equip them with the skills to better understand and answer the questions asked by our call takers. 

Tweed Shire Aged & Disabled FloodSafe Guide – NSW State Emergency Service. The Tweed Shire Aged and Disabled FloodSafe Guide is the first FloodSafe Guide developed by the SES to be locally driven and specific to the needs of the aged and disabled in NSW. The SES, in conjunction with established community networks, adopted innovative approaches to capture the interest and engage with the target audience in their own environment. Highly commended 

Renal Enable Project – Ambulance Service NSW. This project creates and maintains a statewide database that maps where vulnerable and severely mobility limited individuals reside. This enables prioritisation and alleviates the risk of them being left at home, without assessment during utility failure. 

Women's Fire Awareness Program – Canyonleigh Rural Fire Brigade. This program provides knowledge and practical experience to help Canyonleigh women make better decisions in the event of a fire, to have greater awareness of fire behaviour and to write their bush fire survival plan. 

Goodooga Flooding Project – Goodooga Community Working Party. Lead by key community representative Ms Christine Hooper, the Goodooga Community Working Group ensured that the Goodooga Community was adequately cared for and liaised with a wide range of Government Agencies to ensure necessary plans and preparations were in place prior to the impacts of the Goodooga flooding.