Top marks for Community College at access awards

07 December 2016

Murwillumbah Community College takes overall prize

Murwillumbah Community College was a big winner at the fourth annual Tweed Shire Access and Inclusion Awards, claiming overall honours and two of the category prizes.

The adult and community education organisation received the new Faye Druett Award for Advocacy and the Community category, on its way to receiving the overall Tweed Shire Access and Inclusion Award. This year’s award recipients and all the nominees were announced at a ceremony at Twin Towns Services Club last week.

Murwillumbah Community College assists a number of people with additional learning needs and was nominated by a Cert IV in Training and Assessment student whose previous attempts at study had been unsuccessful because he didn’t have access to the support he needed.

The 30-year-old man is blind and deaf – and uses a cochlear implant to hear – but said the support provided by the college, and the self-belief that came as a result, had made the difference.

“(It) helps to change the broader community’s attitude about what people with a disability can achieve, particularly in regard to education and employment,” his nomination says.

Murwillumbah Community College Manager Barbara Carroll said the organisation had a simple attitude that each person who walked through their doors brought both challenges and incredible strengths.

“We try to work with each person to reduce their challenges and barriers and offer them an environment to flourish and, through their strengths, achieve their goals,” Ms Carroll said.

She said their challenges varied from physical, intellectual or learning difficulties to a long break from education or massive family commitments.

“But in parallel to those challenges there is incredible resilience, perseverance and motivation. We just try to provide the best environment and support and it’s very rewarding work,” she said.

Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Katie Milne, said a record number of nominations had been received for this year’s awards, recognising groups and individuals who were giving dignity and response to those who needed it most.

“Everyone in our community shares the responsibility to improve access and inclusion and this is particularly important for businesses and other organisations that provide services to the public,” she said.

Other 2016 prize recipients:

Individual: Winner – Glen Bowe (Positive Energy), Achievement Certificates – Nathan Johnston, Sandy Rogers.

Sport and Leisure: Winner – Peter Comerford (Tweed Sea Sports, Achievement Certificates – Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club, Juraki.

Education: Winner – Jeff Robinson (Principal, Uki Public School), Achievement Certificate – Brendan Ryan (Principal, Mt St Patrick Primary School).

Community: Winner – Murwillumbah Community College, Achievement Certificates – Kids in Need, Tweed Patch Workers

Business: Winner – National Australia Bank Murwillumbah, Achievement Certificates – Suzanne Grae Tweed Heads, Cools Swim School

Belonging Award: Winner – Billabong Swim School

Visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/AccessInclusionAwards to see all the nominees, the presentation by the keynote speaker, Paralympic gold medallist Tracy Barrell, and other details.

Downloads

Photo 1(JPG, 93KB)

Caption: Murwillumbah Community College delegates (from left) Mandie Schoer, Virginia Catts, Barbara Carroll, Gary Bagnall and Gladys Bailey (second from right) receive the perpectual trophy for the overall award from last year’s winner, Pottville Beach Neighbourhood House, represented by Manager Angela Maxwell and Dane McNamara.

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Caption: Sandra Fitch (left) and Judy Bonning (centre), from Billabong Swim School, are presented with the Belonging Award by Heather Tannock from Social Futures.