Fair category

Presented by QSuper.

• Winner
• Highly Commended

Winner

Representing this project (left to right): Front row – Steve Hobson, Frances Ingram, Peter Przybylo, Ruth Brown.

Back row – Peter Morton, Bill Davidson, Sandra Cuthbert, Paul Krautz

Delivery of the Nation Building Jobs Plan – Social Housing Initiative

The Social Housing Initiative, a key component of the Australian Government’s Nation
Building – Economic Stimulus Plan, represents the most significant injection of funding into Queensland’s social housing system in more than 20 years, and is delivering homes to people in need across the state.

Driven by the Departments of Communities and Public Works, in collaboration with local government and the not-for-profit sector, this $1.165 billion three-year initiative is well on its way to providing more than 4000 social housing dwellings for Queenslanders in need (2700 already completed by June 2011). The initiative will also support approximately 6800 jobs across regional and urban areas in Queensland. It also continues to foster innovation, capacity and growth in the not-for-profit sector by supporting providers to manage more properties and provide more homes for tenants in need.

The Social Housing Initiative has already provided significant benefits to countless Queenslanders and greatly contributed to building fairer communities through effective planning and delivering.

Representing this project: Gregory Flint

Policelink Project

The Policelink Project established the first dedicated non-urgent police contact centre in
Queensland, facilitating the introduction of the national non-urgent police number, 131 444. This enhances Queensland Police Service operations by:

• providing an additional multi-channel point-of-contact to make non‑urgent contact with Queensland Police
• operating 24/7 to enhance contact management and call handling capabilities
• improving crime and incident management by reducing response times and increasing proactive policing outputs

Highly Commended

Representing this project (left to right): Cecil Goodman, Lindsay Smith, Philip Venables

Mornington Island Restorative Justice (MIRJ) Project

The MIRJ Project is a mediation or peacemaking service that recognises and respects
Mornington Island kinship and culture while conforming to the requirements of the criminal justice system.

A range of mediation services are provided to prevent the likelihood of escalating violence in a crisis, while well prepared and planned mediations address ongoing conflict. The project also works to reconcile offenders and their victims through court referred restorative justice mediation. Where mediation is not possible or appropriate, conflict counselling, shuttle diplomacy between parties in conflict, and informal counselling from respected kin are used to improve community tensions.

The project currently operates in partnership with Elders and other respected family members who co-mediate with a departmental project manager. The MIRJ project is funded in a partnership with the Australian Attorney-General’s Department.

All photos taken by Hugh O’Brien.