2011 ACT Chief Minister's Inclusion Awards

Winners and Commendations, Finalists and Judges Comments

Winners and Commendations, Finalists and Judges Comment
Chief Ministers Award for Excellence	ACT Cricket Association
Category Winners
Inclusion in Small Business	IGA Spence / Medius Ventures
Inclusion in Medium to Large Business	Coles at Curtin
Inclusion - ACT Government or Agency	ACT Health Directorate
Commendation to:	CIT Fit and Well Gym at Bruce Campus
Inclusion - Commonwealth Government	FAHCSIA Pilot Traineeship
Inclusion in Education and Training	Merici College
Inclusion in Sports	ACT Cricket Association
Inclusion in the Arts	Canberra Dance Theatre
Commendation to:	Belconnen Arts Centre
Inclusion in Hospitality and Tourism	Canberra Labor Club
Innovation in Inclusion	Scooters Australia
The Margaret Spalding Award (Individual)	Sue DeRooy (Westfield Woden)
Commendation to:	Michael Malyszko
The Judges Special Award	Philip Glyde (Depart of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)

Finalists

ACT Boccia
ACT Cricket Association
ACT Deafness Resource Centre
ACT Health
Belconnen Arts Centre
Belconnen Bowling Club
Belconnen Community Centre
Canberra Blind Society
Canberra Dance Theatre
Canberra Labor Club
Capital Community Housing
Capital Football (Pat McCann)
CIT Fit and Well Gym at Bruce Campus
Coles at Curtin
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
FAHCSIA Pilot Training Program
FAHCSIA Property Group
George Huiker, Radford College
Karen Gilmore and DACT staff @ McBeath Group Home, Kambah
'Know Before You Go' Project (NICAN)
IGA Spence / Medius
Merici College
Michael Malyszko
Michael Morris
Rydges Capital Hill
Scooters Australia
Southern Cross Club Woden
Southern Cross Early Childhood School
Sue DeRooy - Westfield Woden

Judges' Comments

Chief Ministers Award for Excellence in Inclusion - Winner: ACT Cricket Association
The ACT Cricket Association is the winner of this year's Chief Ministers Award for Excellence in Inclusion.

ACT Cricket has gone the extra mile to support inclusion and has initiated at least four distinct efforts to engage people with disabilities in the sport of cricket. These include All Abilities in2cricket; The Lord Taverners Table Cricket Championship; a Special Olympics Cricket Program; and a Disability Multi Sport Day.

The Judges felt that the ACT Cricket Association was making an exceptional all round effort to build inclusion within the sport for people in the ACT.

---

Inclusion in Small Business - Category Winner: IGA Spence / Medius Ventures
IGA Spence and Medius Ventures have partnered to provide meaningful, sustainable, and gainful employment for people with mental health issues at risk of significant disadvantage in the labour market. With the support of the ACT Social Enterprise Hub, this innovative program means that Spence IGA now fulfils at least 50% of its staffing needs by employing people who are living with psycho-social disabilities. The IGA has become a showcase for the benefits and rewards that can be gained from employing people with disabilities in businesses of all sizes in partnership with an employment venture.

---

Inclusion in Medium - Large Business - Category Winner: Coles at Curtin ACT
Coles at Curtin began employing people with a disability 20 years ago. At present the business employee's six people with disabilities, the management ensures all staff have opportunities for skill development and job advancement. Coles at Curtin employment culture extends to ensuring customers with disabilities have access to all services in an appropriate and respectful environment.

---

Inclusion - ACT Government - Category Winner: ACT Health Directorate
The ACT Health Directorate and the Canberra Hospital continues to expand and develop inclusive work practices within their operations. Successful employment of people with disabilities within the Canberra Hospital Mailroom has improved awareness of the benefits of employing a person with a disability in other areas as well.

This work is helping to realise the supports offered by the ACT Public Service Employment Framework for People with a Disability which provides managers with knowledge and information about the resources available to support workplace diversity across ACT Health. This includes information about different types of disabilities, simple solutions to the possibilities of workplace modifications and any on-going support that staff may require.

---

Inclusion in a Commonwealth Government - Category Winner: FAHCSIA Pilot Traineeship
FaHCSIA implemented a pilot traineeship for five people with an intellectual disability. This initiative was the first of its kind in the Australian Public Service, and FaHCSIA implemented this program as part of its commitment to achieve all the objectives from the Australian Public Service, Management Advisory Committee Report. To date five trainees successfully graduated from the program, with all trainees placed in ongoing positions within FaHCSIA on completion of the program.

All trainees were all supported by mentors who were specifically trained in mentoring people with an intellectual disability. This traineeship program has meant that:
- more people with an intellectual disability have an employment opportunity;
- a trial program has now been run on which future employment opportunities within FaHCSIA and the APS can be based;
- positive experiences of disability to work area managers and employees have been provided; and
- the benefits of employing people with a disability have been promoted to a segment of the public sector and there is an ability to extend and grow this program.

---

Inclusion in Education and Training - Category Winner: Merici College
Merici College initiated a dynamic and effective relationship development initiative in alignment with Black Mountain School. This program continued throughout 2010 and 2011, with over 40 students visiting BMS building relationship with the students of that school. This initiative has successfully assisted the development of the school pathways including opportunities to extend their learning beyond school and or to form post-school relationships.

---

Inclusion in Sports - Category Winner: ACT Cricket Association
The ACT Cricket Association is the organisation responsible for coordinating and delivering cricket opportunities for the ACT and surrounds NSW regions. Since its inception in 1922, the ACT Cricket Association has offered a wide range of opportunities to support and participate in all forms of cricket through its two departments of High Performance and Game Development.

The ACT Cricket Association is committed to providing every avenue for anyone of any background to participate in the great game of cricket with the aim to be the ACT's favourite summer sport and the sport of choice.

ACT Cricket has gone the extra mile to support inclusion and has initiated a number of distinct efforts to engage people with disabilities in the sport of cricket. These include All Abilities in2cricket; The Lord Taverners Table Cricket Championship; a Special Olympics Cricket Program; and a Disability Multi Sport Day

---

Inclusion in the Arts - Category Winner: Canberra Dance Theatre
The Canberra Dance Theatre has provided an exceptional and wide range of dance and artistic programs providing accessible and inclusive participation where otherwise no suitable options exist. Participants of this program have gone on perform in public mainstream dance theatre, including solo performances.

Through these programs all participates have formed new and valuable social networks and friendships, gained performance opportunities and experience, developed in their creative and artistic life and created a skills based foundation for further development and participation in dance.

---

Inclusion in Hospitality Business - Category Winner: Canberra Labor Club
The Canberra Labor Club ensures the facilities are completely accessible to all customers and to all employees including people with disabilities. The Canberra Labor Club has demonstrated a consistent and long term commitment to including people with disabilities in the workforce, providing vital support and assistance on an individual basis to ensure equal access to both all aspects of employment and cultural inclusion.

The Canberra Labor Club has made an effort across a range of domains including service access, philanthropy and employment.

---

Innovation in Inclusion - Category Winner: Scooters Australia
Scooters Australia raise the bar on innovative customer service, ensuring that people with disabilities who have need of their mobility products receive quality and committed pre-purchase and post purchase service and support. Their level of personalised service matches their motto: ‘Expertise. Compassion. Dedication.'

Their service offer includes an innovative package of customer focussed services including interest free finance, home based service and repair, recycling and safety training. Scooters Australia's customer base passionately promotes the quality and innovative services Scooters Australia provides.

---

The Margaret Spalding Award for an Individual - Winner: Sue DeRooy (Westfield Shopping Centre Woden)
Sue DeRooy is employed as a concierge at Westfield Shopping Centre Woden. Sue ensures shoppers and people who come to the Plaza are satisfied with the experience and provided comprehensive access to all facilities and services.

There are a number of groups of people with disabilities who visit the centre for recreation and shopping and Sue has gone above and beyond the usual services of a concierge to ensure they feel welcomed and can enjoy the centre. Sue's passion and complete commitment to assisting people with disabilities to feel confident about their access and use of all Centre facilities has made an impact on numerous customers with disabilities.

---

The Judges Special Award - Winner: Philip Glyde
Philip Glyde is an individual determined to improve access and inclusion of people with hearing disabilities or who identify as deaf in the course of his day to day activities and his work at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The Judges decided to present Philip Glyde an Award of Special Recognition for his personal commitment above and beyond the usual.