WA resource partnerships deliver education and health benefits for local communities
| Date: | Friday, 04 December 2020 |
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For the first time ever there were two outstanding winners for the DMIRS Community Partnership Resources Sector Awards.
Scitech and Alcoa of Australia won the award for their Alcoa Maths Enrichment Program. The program, which is being rolled out at Bunbury and Mandurah primary schools, prepare students for the modern workforce where 75 per cent of the fastest growing jobs will require STEM skills.
The second award was presented to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Shires of Mingenew, Morowa and Perenjori in partnership with Karara Mining Ltd for their Midwest Mobile Dental Clinic. The clinic provides access to free, quality, dental services 25 weeks of the year, improving health outcomes for people in the State’s mid-west.
DMIRS Director General David Smith said the judging panel continues to be impressed by the partnerships being forged around the State.
“Alcoa and Karara have demonstrated a commitment to boosting opportunities and reaching out to improve the lives of West Australians, by finding solutions or new strategies that will benefit local communities,” he said.
“Both of these partnerships not only fill a fundamental need in their communities, but they also demonstrate an ability to be replicated in other areas, locally, nationally and even internationally.”
A Special Commendation award was presented to Glass Jar Australia Ltd and St Barbara Ltd for their Leonora Shooting Stars program, which uses sport to encourage and improve education and career pathways for young local Aboriginal girls.
“The judges recognised that while this is only a relatively new partnership, the program has already made a real difference in empowering individuals and they look forward to seeing how it progresses,” Mr Smith explained.
The DMIRS Resources Sector Awards for Excellence recognise innovation, leadership and outstanding achievements in the mining and resources sector. These awards include the Community Partnership Resources Sectors Awards and the Golden Gecko Award for Environmental Excellence.
The nominations for the 2020 Golden Gecko award reflected the resources sector’s continued focus on environmental management. The judging panel however, determined the nominated projects did not reach the high level of achievement to receive the Golden Gecko award for this year.
