- WA winners of Resilient Australia Awards announced
- Recognition for projects that build community resilience or support residents in their recovery from natural disasters
- Winners vie for national honours at ceremony in Perth next month
A Northam-based First Nations group, a Perth high school and an incident photographer will represent Western Australia at the national Resilient Australia Awards next month after being judged State winners in their respective categories.
The Resilient Australia Awards, in their 24th year, celebrate the hard work of individuals, organisations, Governments and schools who are developing programs and initiatives that help Australians better prepare, respond and recover from disasters.
First Nations organisation As One Nyitting was judged the winner of the State Community Award for using ancient land management practices to restore fire-affected bushland near Gidgegannup.
Port School in Hamilton Hill took out the School Award for developing a training program that equips young people from vulnerable communities with emergency management skills.
Photographer Sean Blocksidge was voted the winner of the Resilient Australia 'People's Choice' Photography Award for a stunning photo he took of a volunteer firefighter at the Treeton bushfire in February 2022.
The three State winners are now finalists in their respective categories for the national Resilient Australia Awards, which will be held at Optus Stadium in Perth on 22 November.
Five other submissions from around the State were highly commended for developing initiatives that are making WA communities safer, more connected and better prepared for disasters:
- Roleystone Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Community Award, Roleystone Fire Tree;
- Wellington Mills Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade, Community Award, Wellington Mills Bushfire Ready Program;
- Rhodes Pastoral Pty Ltd, Business Award, Fire Emergency Fast-Fill Water Station, Dinninup;
- Gingin District High School, School Award, Including an Emergency Services Qualification in the curriculum; and
- Department of Fire and Emergency Services, Government Award, Kimberley Floods Community Updates
The Resilient Australia Awards are proudly sponsored by the Australian Government in partnership with DFES and managed by the Australian Institute of Disaster Resilience.
As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"Congratulations and thank you to all the outstanding local achievers who are making a difference to the lives of Western Australians with projects that strengthen their resilience to major disasters.
"The Cook Government is committed on building resilience in the way our communities recover from floods, bushfires and cyclones.
"When we build resilience, we build strength and we build an understanding of the risks we face. It is a shared responsibility between individuals, households, businesses, communities and government.
"We must continue to be innovative in the way we prepare for and manage the impacts of disasters as they become more frequent and severe due to climate change.
"Good luck to the three State winners who will represent WA at the national awards next month."
