Media Release by Senator the Hon Kay Patterson

New South Wales community business partnerships awarded

Seven New South Wales community business partnerships have received awards in the prestigious 2005 Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships.

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today presented the partnerships with awards at an event in Sydney, as part of National Community Business Partnerships Week.

“The NSW Small Business Award acknowledges the partnership between Prime Television Wollongong, WAVE FM and the Illawarra Division of General Practice, which uses the extensive reach of television and radio to promote health issues in the Illawarra region.

“The NSW Medium Business Award acknowledges the strategic fit between PMI Mortgage Insurance and Habitat for Humanity Australia, where PMI Mortgage Insurance creates home ownership opportunities through the provision of credit enhancement to financial institutions in Australia and Habitat for Humanity builds simple and affordable housing.

“Winner of the NSW Large Business Award was the Millers Point Youth and Employment Partnership – a collaboration of 11 organisations, where Lend Lease and the Abraham Mott Centre -City of Sydney are the principal partners.

“The partnership has implemented a four-tier mentoring programme for young people in the area and in 2005 it also facilitated Rockfest05, a film festival for young people.

Judges’ Encouragement Awards were presented to Halo Architectural Design Services and the Lake Macquarie and District Historical Society; Greening Australia and TransGrid; Vision CRC & partners and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council; and Vodafone Australia and Vodafone Foundation in partnership with Barnardos Australia, Mission Australia and Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off The Streets.

“In addition to the NSW awards, Senator Patterson also presented a Large Business Multi-State Award to Citigroup Australia and the YWCA of NSW for their partnership aimed at improving financial literacy among children and adults.

“I congratulate all businesses and community groups for their achievements which have been recognised through participating in these awards,” Senator Patterson said.

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