Community Finalists Announced for 2016 ZEST Awards - Blue Mountains

Community Finalists Announced for 2016 ZEST Awards – Blue Mountains

Media ReleaseZEST

February 18, 2016

ZEST Awards are pleased to announce 3 nominees from the Blue Mountains local government area – nominees represent the categories for Outstanding Use of Technology by a Not for Profit Organisation and Exceptional Community Partnership Project in a Local Government Area.

Meet the nominees:

Every Moment Has Potential: Person Centred Active Support Online Learning Resource – nominated for Outstanding Use of Technology by a Not for Profit Organisation

A free, web-based learning resource for disability support workers funded by the Federal Government and developed in collaboration between Greystanes Disability Services and La Trobe University of Victoria –including input from a wide range of stakeholders, including Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Tizard Centre (UK), NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Sunshine, NSW Council for Intellectual Disability and the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association.

Blue Mountains Domestic Squalor & Hoarding Working Group – nominated for Exceptional Community Partnership Project in a Local Government Area

Councils Aged and Disability Services Development Officer convened a Working Party in partnership with key services in the Blue Mountains to develop a strategic plan to address problems of squalor affecting Blue Mountains residents. The plan resulted in a Domestic Squalor Information Package assisting residents, services and Council in identifying squalor and the resources available to assist in the support for residents.

Paint the Blue REaD (PTBR): Reading Week 2015 –nominates for Exceptional Community Partnership Project in a Local Government Area

PTBR is auspiced by Mountains Outreach Community Service (MOCS) and is a project of the Stronger Families Alliance. PTBR is part of a national network of Paint the Town REaD projects encouraging literacy skills and social support through stories, rhymes and play.

Mayor of Blue Mountains City Council, Cr Mark Greenhill, OAM, recognises the nominees for their contributions to the community.

“Blue Mountains City Council congratulates these worthy nominees for the ZEST Awards 2016 and looks forward to ongoing partnerships with our community groups and agencies to continue to strive to be a caring, inclusive and learning community” said Cr Greenhill.

“The work and achievements of the Blue Mountains ZEST Awards nominees is at the core of our community vision –to recognise all Blue Mountains people, to care for each other, to sustain our communities.”

The ZEST Awards is an event led by peak body Western Sydney Community Forum and showcases the achievements of the community sector. This year ZEST Awards 2016’s key partners include TRI Community Exchange Inc., WESTIR Ltd., Western Sydney University, TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute and Transport for NSW.

Winners will be announced at the 2016 ZEST Awards on Wednesday, 24 February at ANZ Stadium.

For more information on the ZEST Awards or to purchase tickets visit: www.zestawards.com.au

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@zestawards

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