Queensland community business partnerships awarded

Four Queensland community business partnerships have been rewarded in the prestigious 2005 Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships.The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, presented the partnerships with awards at a National Community Business Partnerships Week ceremony in Brisbane today.

“These award-winning partnerships have been recognised for outstanding contributions to the community, covering a range of social issues from increasing local skills and training to raising awareness of child abuse and domestic and family violence,” Senator Patterson said.

“The Queensland Small Business Award was won by a partnership between Grinder Corporate Catering and Mackay North State High School.

“With a regional shortage of hospitality workers in Mackay, a centre that relies on tourism for economic and social development, this partnership enables students to gain valuable real life work experience.

“The judges also awarded a Queensland Small Business Judges’ Encouragement Award to Kayak World, Saint Stephen’s College and Mudgereeba Special School for the partnership, which aims to develop and foster relationships between senior secondary students and students with special needs, through participation in kayaking.

“The Queensland Medium Business Award acknowledges the benefits of the partnership between Publicis Mojo in Brisbane and the Abused Child Trust.

“Since 1988, this dynamic advertising agency and the Trust have combined services to help people who have suffered child abuse and successfully raised awareness of child abuse issues.

“The Queensland Large Business Award was presented to Minter Ellison and CEO Challenge for their work in encouraging partnerships between businesses and domestic violence services.

“The law firm, Minter Ellison, has become a public advocate, speaking out about domestic violence and has worked with CEO Challenge to raise awareness of domestic violence issues within its own organisation.

“These award winners demonstrate the diversity of benefits for the community which can be achieved when individuals, government, business and community groups work together,” Senator Patterson said.

The national award winners will be announced later this year in Melbourne.