Community the Real Winner in Corrections Victoria Awards
Community groups working with offenders to help Victorians in innovative ways have been recognised at the 2011 Corrections Victoria Community Work Partnerships Awards.
Corrections and Crime Prevention Minister, Andrew McIntosh joined Corrections Commissioner, Bob Hastings to present the awards at a ceremony last week.
"These awards pay tribute to groups involving those who have done the wrong thing to give back to the community," Mr McIntosh said.
"The community benefits from the work they do and it's a good form of rehabilitation for offenders, who are then less likely to reoffend in the future."
Last financial year, community work partnerships using prisoners and offenders on community orders carried out more than 1,000 projects. Offenders completed more than 800,000 hours of unpaid work, valued at $19 million.
The deserving winner was Green Wheels of Justice, a multi-partner project using offenders to repair and restore bicycles using environmentally friendly materials. The bicycles were then given to underprivileged residents and new refugees residing in St Albans.
Green Wheels of Justice won the award for most outstanding new project, as well as the commissioner's award.
Mr McIntosh described the project as an impressive example of the wider benefits of work partnerships, with broad-reaching improvements to the lives of communities and offenders alike.
"2011 was also notable for projects which used offenders to give desperately needed help in some of Victoria's 100 flood-affected communities. Offenders helped sandbag, clean up as waters receded and – in some cases – rebuild farms and homes," Mr McIntosh said.
Community work programs give offenders a chance to use their time to repay the community while, at the same time, learning and enhancing skills. In many cases, the programs are also able to offer certificates and skills accreditation, to support offenders into employment opportunities once their sentences or orders have been completed.
The awards provide important recognition to the benefits community work partnerships can bring, from both a corrections management and crime prevention perspective.
Not-for-profit groups interested in forming a community work partnership should contact Department of Justice's Strategic Communication Branch on (03) 8684 0302.
The 2011 Community Partnership Award winners:
- Category 1: Most Outstanding New Project
- Green Wheels of Justice
- Category 2: Initiative with Local Councils, Shires or Utilities
- Community Emergency Information Notice Boards
- Category 3: Educational Institution/ Educational Programs
- Weeroona Cemetery
- Category 4: Environmental Sustainability Projects
- Parks Victoria Environmental Community Work Program
- Category 5: Projects Involving Diversity, Indigenous and Aged Offenders/ Prisoners
- HEELP (Horticulture Employment & Eco Living Program)
- Category 6: Supervisor Award
- Kevin Hall – A Gesture
- Category 7: Peter Lindsay Award Field Officer /Staff /Location/ Region
- Louise Head and Donald Knight – Field Officers, Bendigo CCS
- Category 8: Most Outstanding Location-Based Project (CCS Location/ Prison)
- Soft Toy Program
- Category 9: Best in Region
- Barwon South West Region: Hamilton Institute of Rural Learning
- Eastern Metropolitan Region: Boyd Gales, Salvos Stores Kilsyth
- Gippsland Region: Community Emergency Information Notice Boards
- Grampians Region: Clematis Walking Track Flood Recovery (joint winner)
- And Marigolds for ANZAC Day (joint winner)
- Hume Region: Danny Jones, Albury Wodonga Regional Parklands
- Loddon Mallee Region: Louise Head and Donald Knight, Field Officers, Bendigo CCS
- North Western Metropolitan Region: Green Wheels of Justice
- Southern Metropolitan Region: Parks Victoria Environmental Community Work Program
- Category 10: Commissioner's Award
- Green Wheels of Justice