Prime Ministers Work for the Dole Achievement Awards 2002 - Caring for our Community
Award: Winner Best Activity and Winner Caring for our Community
Name: BCDC Courier Charity Fund Project,
Ballarat VIC
From left to right: Winner Best Activity and Caring for our Community category, Work for the Dole Achievement Awards 2002, Senator Judith Troeth, Senator for Victoria, The Hon Tony Abbott MP, Minister For Employment and Workplace Relations, Mr Bruce Morgan, The Courier; Mr John King, JG King Homes; Mr Ron Stone, BEST Community Development; Mr Stephen Erwin, WfD Participant; The Hon Mal Brough MP, Minister for Employment Services
Description
BEST Community Development of Ballarat Victoria has won the Prime Minister’s Work for the Dole Achievement Award for the Best Activity in 2002. The award recognises BEST Community Development’s contribution to unemployed people as well as its achievements in helping to provide quality services and facilities to their local community.
BEST Community Development was also awarded the Best Activity in the Caring for our Community category.
The BCDC Courier Charity Fund Project involved the cooperation of local qualified trade people and other professionals to build a new house, including landscaping the grounds. The property was then sold, generating profits in excess of $100 000 that were distributed to local not-for-profit organisations.
Work for the Dole participants gained technical, personal, leadership and project management skills. They worked alongside many potential employers and vastly improved their networks. The community gave this Work for the Dole activity enormous support by providing services, expertise and materials. A gala dinner, at which Work for the Dole participants were honoured, was attended by community members and national celebrities, and raised further funds for local charities.
Participants acquired a variety of work skills and gained experience in working as part of a team as well as independently. They also gained satisfaction from knowing that they are helping local organisations raise funds which will be put back into their community. At the completion of their placement, participants receive a Training Credit up to the value of $800 to pursue further training and a Passport to Employment to help them gain paid employment.