Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston today announced the winners of the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety’s annual Community Partnership Resources Sector Award for Excellence.
For the first time ever, there were two community partnership winners. Scitech and Alcoa of Australia won the award for their Alcoa Maths Enrichment Program.
The program, deployed at Bunbury and Mandurah primary schools, prepares students for the modern workforce where 75 per cent of the fastest growing jobs will require STEM skills.
The second award was presented to the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the shires of Mingenew, Morawa and Perenjori in partnership with Karara Mining for their Midwest Mobile Dental Clinic.
The clinic provides access to free, dental services 25 weeks of the year, improving health outcomes for people in the State’s Mid-West.
Both partnerships deliver immediate and long-term benefits to their local communities, and there is the potential for these programs to be introduced in other areas throughout Western Australia.
A Special Commendation award was presented to Glass Jar Australia and St Barbara for their Leonora Shooting Stars program, which uses sport to encourage and improve education and career pathways for Aboriginal girls.
As stated by Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston:
“Congratulations to the winners who have delivered excellent programs and strategies to improve their communities.
“The Scitech and Alcoa Maths Enrichment Program will help students gain the STEM skills needed for the best job opportunities. The program is already attracting international interest.
“The Midwest Mobile Dental Clinic partnership has provided more than 3,600 free consultations over seven years to local people who need it the most.
“These resources sector and community partnerships are excellent examples of dedicated people working together to achieve positive outcomes for Western Australians.”
