Published Thursday, 31 May, 2007 at 07:15 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Warren Pitt
QUEENSLAND BUSINESSES ARE LEADING RECONCILIATION: PREMIER
Premier Peter Beattie today announced the winners of the 2007 Reconciliation Awards for Business and congratulated the diverse group of businesses, community organisations and partnerships for their contributions to reconciliation in Queensland.
“The year’s winners are leading reconciliation in the Queensland business community and they are actively promoting cultural awareness and reconciliation through their workplace initiatives,” Mr Beattie said.
“Reconciliation is everyone’s business and the community organisations, partnerships and private enterprises honored in this year’s awards prove that our State’s business community has great potential to make a significant contribution to reconciliation,” he said.
“The winners represent a broad spectrum of Queensland businesses. They include a community arts and cultural centre, an organisation providing specialised services to Indigenous people with disabilities, and a smart partnership formed to complete a major highway upgrade.
“This year’s recipients have each contributed to reconciliation in their own unique way, and they’ve shown how reconciliation initiatives can be incorporated successfully and productively into the workplace.
“I congratulate the winners of the 2007 Reconciliation Awards for Business and thank them for setting a high benchmark for the growing involvement of Queensland enterprises of all kinds in reconciliation.”
Non-government award recipients across all categories received a share of $30,000 in prize money.
The 2007 Reconciliation Awards for Business are coordinated by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and supported by Zinifex Limited, Department of Public Works and the Department of Main Roads.
For more information visit www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au or call 07 3405 5215.
Awards winners are listed on the following 2 pages.
Media Contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister’s Office 3235 4280, 0408 701 379
2007 RECONCILIATION AWARDS FOR BUSINESS
PRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
Emerging Business Award
Dirranbandi Gindjurra Timber Enterprise
The Dirranbandi Gindjurra Timber Enterprise is a community-based enterprise involved in harvesting and packing timber.
The company has thrived in the struggling community of Dirranbandi which has faced economic decline due to the drought effecting the community’s traditional reliance on primary production activities.
The company, which has over 90% Indigenous employees, has successfully grown through establishing partnerships with non-Indigenous commercial bodies and government.
Established Business Award
Lockhart River Art and Cultural Centre
The Lockhart River Art and Cultural Centre began as an extra-curricular art initiative of the Lockhart River State School in the early 1990s and has since attained an international profile for its Aboriginal art.
The centre’s art is described as a contemporary response to the environment, culture and traditions of the isolated Aboriginal community. Known as the “Art Gang”, the artists have developed their own forms of expression which have been described as significantly different to the Aboriginal art of central Australia and other regions around the country.
Many artists at the centre are under the age of 35 – a demographic considered quite rare for Aboriginal artists, most of whom are elders.
Community Organisation Award
LifeTec Queensland
LifeTec Queensland provides information, consultation and education about technologies to assist people with disabilities. The organisation has successfully tailored its services to provide culturally appropriate occupational therapy services that cater to the unique needs of Indigenous people with disabilities.
The company regularly visits Indigenous communities around Queensland to help people with disabilities maintain their quality of life and independence. It also provides training programs for Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups about how best to work with Indigenous people with disabilities.
Employment and Training Award
Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company
The Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company is responsible for the management of the Lawn Hill and Riversleigh cattle stations, covering more than 1.6 million acres. The properties are in the Gulf of Carpentaria, with traditional ownership of the land belonging to the Waanyi people.
The company provides training and personal development programs for Indigenous youth from lower Gulf communities who have suffered personal problems associated with physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and other issues.
Its training and development program provides accredited technical training, as well as professional counselling and personal and social development assistance. The program is aimed at empowering Indigenous youth with the skills to make informed life choices.
Partnership Award
Split Rock Inca Alliance – Myuma, Seymour Whyte Constructions
and Department of Main Roads
The Split Rock Inca Alliance (SRIA) was created to complete the final stage of the Barkly Highway upgrade between Mount Isa and Camooweal in far north-west Queensland.
It was an alliance between civil construction company Seymour Whyte Constructions, Myuma (a young company owned and managed by the Indjilandji-Dhidhanu people), the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the Camooweal region and the Department of Main Roads.
The SRIA was commissioned to undertake the highway upgrade which involved construction of 35km of new highway and three new bridges.
The alliance formed between Seymour White Constructions, Myuma and the department generated major employment, training and business development outcomes for the Indigenous people of Myuma, and it promoted cooperation and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to successfully achieve project outcomes.
Premier’s Reconciliation Award for Business
Split Rock Inca Alliance - Myuma, Seymour Whyte Constructions
and Department of Main Roads
From the five award recipients, the Split Rock Inca Alliance involving Myuma, Seymour Whyte Constructions and the Department of Main Roads was awarded the overall Premier’s Reconciliation Award for Business. This award is bestowed by the judging panel on the business considered to have made the most outstanding contribution to reconciliation.
“The year’s winners are leading reconciliation in the Queensland business community and they are actively promoting cultural awareness and reconciliation through their workplace initiatives,” Mr Beattie said.
“Reconciliation is everyone’s business and the community organisations, partnerships and private enterprises honored in this year’s awards prove that our State’s business community has great potential to make a significant contribution to reconciliation,” he said.
“The winners represent a broad spectrum of Queensland businesses. They include a community arts and cultural centre, an organisation providing specialised services to Indigenous people with disabilities, and a smart partnership formed to complete a major highway upgrade.
“This year’s recipients have each contributed to reconciliation in their own unique way, and they’ve shown how reconciliation initiatives can be incorporated successfully and productively into the workplace.
“I congratulate the winners of the 2007 Reconciliation Awards for Business and thank them for setting a high benchmark for the growing involvement of Queensland enterprises of all kinds in reconciliation.”
Non-government award recipients across all categories received a share of $30,000 in prize money.
The 2007 Reconciliation Awards for Business are coordinated by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and supported by Zinifex Limited, Department of Public Works and the Department of Main Roads.
For more information visit www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au or call 07 3405 5215.
Awards winners are listed on the following 2 pages.
Media Contact: Premier’s Office 3224 4500, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Minister’s Office 3235 4280, 0408 701 379
2007 RECONCILIATION AWARDS FOR BUSINESS
PRESENTED IN THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
Emerging Business Award
Dirranbandi Gindjurra Timber Enterprise
The Dirranbandi Gindjurra Timber Enterprise is a community-based enterprise involved in harvesting and packing timber.
The company has thrived in the struggling community of Dirranbandi which has faced economic decline due to the drought effecting the community’s traditional reliance on primary production activities.
The company, which has over 90% Indigenous employees, has successfully grown through establishing partnerships with non-Indigenous commercial bodies and government.
Established Business Award
Lockhart River Art and Cultural Centre
The Lockhart River Art and Cultural Centre began as an extra-curricular art initiative of the Lockhart River State School in the early 1990s and has since attained an international profile for its Aboriginal art.
The centre’s art is described as a contemporary response to the environment, culture and traditions of the isolated Aboriginal community. Known as the “Art Gang”, the artists have developed their own forms of expression which have been described as significantly different to the Aboriginal art of central Australia and other regions around the country.
Many artists at the centre are under the age of 35 – a demographic considered quite rare for Aboriginal artists, most of whom are elders.
Community Organisation Award
LifeTec Queensland
LifeTec Queensland provides information, consultation and education about technologies to assist people with disabilities. The organisation has successfully tailored its services to provide culturally appropriate occupational therapy services that cater to the unique needs of Indigenous people with disabilities.
The company regularly visits Indigenous communities around Queensland to help people with disabilities maintain their quality of life and independence. It also provides training programs for Indigenous and non-Indigenous groups about how best to work with Indigenous people with disabilities.
Employment and Training Award
Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company
The Lawn Hill and Riversleigh Pastoral Holding Company is responsible for the management of the Lawn Hill and Riversleigh cattle stations, covering more than 1.6 million acres. The properties are in the Gulf of Carpentaria, with traditional ownership of the land belonging to the Waanyi people.
The company provides training and personal development programs for Indigenous youth from lower Gulf communities who have suffered personal problems associated with physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, and other issues.
Its training and development program provides accredited technical training, as well as professional counselling and personal and social development assistance. The program is aimed at empowering Indigenous youth with the skills to make informed life choices.
Partnership Award
Split Rock Inca Alliance – Myuma, Seymour Whyte Constructions
and Department of Main Roads
The Split Rock Inca Alliance (SRIA) was created to complete the final stage of the Barkly Highway upgrade between Mount Isa and Camooweal in far north-west Queensland.
It was an alliance between civil construction company Seymour Whyte Constructions, Myuma (a young company owned and managed by the Indjilandji-Dhidhanu people), the Aboriginal Traditional Owners of the Camooweal region and the Department of Main Roads.
The SRIA was commissioned to undertake the highway upgrade which involved construction of 35km of new highway and three new bridges.
The alliance formed between Seymour White Constructions, Myuma and the department generated major employment, training and business development outcomes for the Indigenous people of Myuma, and it promoted cooperation and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to successfully achieve project outcomes.
Premier’s Reconciliation Award for Business
Split Rock Inca Alliance - Myuma, Seymour Whyte Constructions
and Department of Main Roads
From the five award recipients, the Split Rock Inca Alliance involving Myuma, Seymour Whyte Constructions and the Department of Main Roads was awarded the overall Premier’s Reconciliation Award for Business. This award is bestowed by the judging panel on the business considered to have made the most outstanding contribution to reconciliation.