Victorians have been recognised for their efforts to build safer and better prepared communities during emergencies at the 2015 Resilient Australia Awards.
Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll said the national awards promoted local projects that help make communities more resilient during natural disasters, such as bushfires or floods.
Life Saving Victoria was awarded a Resilient Australia Community Award for its drowning prevention initiative, Helping Older Adults Become Everyday Lifesavers.
The program, targeted specifically at people aged over 60, aimed to address the high rates of preventable drowning deaths in this age group by building water safety knowledge and skills among elderly people.
Mansfield Shire Council received a Resilient Australia Government Award for its Community Resilience Leadership Program.
This program brought together community, council and emergency services to build and lead resilience and improve how communities prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies.
Two Victorian projects were also highly commended. The Southern Grampians Glenelg Primary Care Partnership was recognised in the community category for its innovative project, Rural People, Resilient Futures, while the Pyrenees Shire Council was acknowledged in the government category for its Emergencies Happen in the Pyrenees: Think ahead, know what to do initiative.
Rebecca Hosking was awarded a People’s Choice award in the photography category for her image titled Helmet of Leadership Values, which depicted Anglesea CFA Captain, Andy Rankin, passing the “helmet of leadership” on to his son Elliot.
Further information about winning and highly commended projects is available at
The Victorian winners will now become finalists in the national judging.
Quotes attributable to Parliamentary Secretary for Justice Ben Carroll
“The 2015 Resilient Australia Awards showcase the great work happening in local communities and on the ground to strengthen community disaster resilience.”
“We all have a role to play in helping to make our communities safer and the Resilient Australia Awards are an example of the collaborative and innovative contributions being made by communities, government, agencies and business in this space.”
“Ahead of summer, it is important we all think about our preparedness and make plans to protect ourselves, our properties and our families.”
Reviewed 10 February 2021