2006 AUSTRALIAN SAFER COMMUNITIES AWARDS

6.12.2006

Download the Safer Communities Awards 2006 booklet (PDF 1.31MB)

Projects that help improve community resilience in the face of disasters have been recognised at the seventh annual Safer Communities Awards.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the 10 award winners from across Australia had demonstrated a commitment to keeping people safe in an emergency.

"The continued interest in these national awards highlights the importance of building self-reliance in our communities," said Mr Ruddock.

"This is vital when we consider some of the disasters that have occurred in Australia in the past year alone - from devastating cyclones and floods, to major bushfires and terrible road traumas."

Mr Ruddock commended the entrants for learning lessons from previous disastrous events in their regions, such as the recovery of Bunbury from a tornado, and the design of an animal welfare centre after families lost pets in the Canberra bushfires.

Twenty winning projects from a total of 60 entries at state level were considered in the national finals of this year's Safer Communities Awards. They were judged in either pre-disaster or post-disaster categories and were separated into areas covering emergency volunteer organisations, research bodies and private businesses, to federal and state government agencies and local councils.

Many entries were the result of co-operative efforts in the face of emergency management challenges.

"One particularly pleasing outcome of these Awards is the ready transferability of some projects to be great models for other communities," said Mr Ruddock.