Category 1 – Working creatively to make a difference (small group/organisation, with a program or service budget of less than $50,000)

Rainbow Relaxation Centre
The Rainbow Relaxation Centre located at St John of God Hospital in Bunbury provides free complementary therapies to enhance the treatment offered by traditional medicine. Established and managed by volunteers, the Centre provides a place of harmony for mind, body and spirit within the hospital system.  It provides a range of therapies including Reiki, Bowen Therapy, reflexology, massage and relaxation therapy. The Centre has been a strong influence in creating understanding of the holistic nature of health and wellbeing at the hospital. Since its inception in 2002, the Centre’s volunteers have provided almost 3,500 sessions to patients, carers and caregivers.

Category 2 – Working creatively to make a difference (large group/organisation, with a program or service budget of more than $50,000)

FAIR
Relationship Australia’s Family Abuse Integrated Response (or FAIR) is the first Western Australian family and domestic violence program to integrate services for men, women and children. The service provides a safe and supportive environment for women, children, partners and perpetrators to deal with violence from their particular perspective. It aims to strengthen the ability of individuals, families and the community to improve safety and address violence. Developed and delivered in partnership with a number of community organisations, FAIR has already assisted about 1500 families and provides special programs for Aboriginal families and families from other cultural backgrounds.

Category 3 - Strengthening Communities

MATES Men’s support Group
The Mates Men’s Support Group MOVE (Men Overcoming Violence for Equality) was founded in Busselton in October 2003. Originally it aimed at providing a 16 week anger management course for men, helping them more aware of their anger, options and consequences of their options.

It was quickly recognised that in order to effectively help men in the program it needed to be a 24/7 service that was available to men in need.

In the first 18 months of operation the service has established a range of services including a 24 hour crisis phone line, a cooling off house and up to 3 months emergency accommodation, two resource centres and lending library, job network and information trailer.

Earlier this year MATES launched its latest project – The Hub – that focuses on youth at risk.

Predominately self-funded, MATES has had a huge impact in the community by helping keep families together.

Category 4 - Strengthening Volunteering

St Patricks Community Support Centre Volunteers & Hands on Health
St Patricks Community Support Centre Volunteers and Hands on Health work together in Fremantle, offering meals, accommodation, welfare services and wholistic healing to Fremantle’s homeless and disadvantaged people in crisis. The 60 cross-generational vounteers give support which is pragmatic, compassionate, spiritual and realistic.  It brings relief, joy and potential for change to the south metropolitan region’s most disenfranchised people and enriches all participants – volunteers, staff, clients and the wider community.

Category 5 -  Strengthening the Community Services Industry

Opening Closets
Opening Closets is an innovative Perth Inner City Youth Service project that improves access to supported accommodation for people with diverse sexuality and gender.  It is the first time in WA that specific needs of these people are being addressed.  Opening Closets develops partnerships between a range of services, to provide the best possible support for these people and is particularly important in rural and remote areas where there are few support options.

Category 6 - Business and Community Partnerships

Alinta Energises the Salvation Army
Alinta and The Salvation Army have been working together since 2002 to create a partnership aimed at making a positive difference to the community.

Together they have initiated new emergency relief and support programs that help bring positive lifestyle changes for Salvation Army clients living in Alinta service areas.

During the last four years Alinta employees, families and friends have volunteered their time to raise more than $40,000 at Fremantle Football Club games at Subiaco Oval.

During peak times, Alinta Staff have volunteered time to help pack food hampers for families in need and have also been at the end of the phone as emergency volunteers when required.

The partnership has also assisted The Salvation Army’s Family Support Service that provides financial, emotional and practical help to people and families struggling with day-to-day living.

Category 7- Strengthening rural and remote communities.

Mingle Mob
Youth Involvement Council Inc.
Mingle Mob is an outreach support service that has been strengthening the community of Port Hedland since January 2005. Developed in response to the rising anti-social and criminal behaviour in Port Hedland, Mingle Mob engages with “at risk” young people in the community to offer support and guidance.
Through conducting regular street patrols, educating families and young people on acceptable behaviour and linking them to support services, the program has seen a reduction in the level of criminal and anti social behaviour.
Mingle Mob has given strength to the community by providing support to families with ongoing social problems, linking young people and their families to activities and increasing the sense of safety and security in the community of Port Hedland.
Through the dedication and hard work in the area, Mingle Mob has become a critical point of contact for “at risk” members of the community.

Category 8 - Organisational  Execellence

Hills Community Support Group
The Hills Community Support Group undertook to revisit its purpose and reinvent itself.  This was 22 years after it started as a support for older people living alone, later developing into a community service provider for the aged, people with a disability and disadvantaged youth in the Eastern Metropolitan Region.  The Group examined itself in a public, planned, inclusive manner, involving more then 400 people in the process of setting new program goals and ideas for the future and participating in business improvement projects.  The experience provides an excellent role model for other organisations to learn and manage change constructively.

Category 9 - Outstanding Commitment by an Individual

Atul Kumar Garg
Atul Kumar Garg has a strong and visible commitment to community service to the Indian and Hindu communities and to the people of Melville. In his role as President of the Indian Society of WA, Atul Garg assists new Indian migrants in his own time, leads a team of volunteers to organise activities including the cultural carnival, and is undertaking the challenge to create a model Indian Australians’ Cultural Centre.  As Secretary and Vice President of the Hindu Association of WA, he contributed immensely to fundraising and community activities and as President led the development of the Perth Hindu Temple at Hindu Centre in WA, now accredited as a 'Place of Interest' by Tourism WA.  He is founder and coordinator of a new initiative, the Hindu Association School of Arts, Culture, Languages and Music, and was the co-founder, Treasurer and first life member of the Hindi Academy of WA, now called Hindi Samaj.  Mr Garg participates in various multifaith activities and lectures on the principles of Hinduism.  He is also a Justice of the Peace and the suburb manager for Winthrop in the City of Melville’s Neighbourhood Watch program.  Since migrating to Australia 14 years ago, his commitment and passion has directly making a positive difference in the lives of many