By Cath Newell
Why should you enter the Premier’s Sustainability Awards? Community garden project tells why.
New research by Sustainability Victoria shows that over 90 per cent of Victorians want government, business and industry to be involved in environmental projects and to tackle climate change.
One of the great ways that sustainable Victorians can demonstrate their commitment is by entering the annual Premier’s Sustainability Awards. With 10 categories in this year’s program, there’s an opportunity for a range of organisations to celebrate their sustainability leadership with the wider Victorian community.
Previous finalists and winners say that their involvement in the Awards has led to improved staff morale, acknowledged green credentials with their customers and stronger relationships in their communities.
AMES Australia and partner Parks Victoria were finalists in the 2016 Environmental Justice category for supporting asylum seekers and refugees through the establishment of their productive, commercial, multi-cultural Werribee Park community garden just out of Melbourne.
Peter Kelly, Marketing and Communications Manager, AMES Australia, says that entering the Premier’s Sustainability Awards was a terrific way to promote community integration and social inclusion.
“This project is a great example of how AMES Australia engages our clients from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds with meaningful activities, provides them opportunities for work experience and helps them build connections with local communities,” he said.
Each year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards promotes the success stories of businesses, organisations, community groups and social enterprises that have introduced sustainability into what they do, providing great role models for all.
People all over Victoria’s north east are doing fantastic and innovative things in sustainability. With community support for climate change action at a record high, now is the time to enter a sustainability project in Victoria’s most high profile environmental awards program and be recognised for your contribution.
Entries close Wednesday 21 June 2017. For more information about how to enter the awards and to book for a free information session, visit www.sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au