Released 14/12/2017 - Joint media release
Canberrans can be proud of the great individuals, businesses and initiatives recognised at the 2017 Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards. These recipients and projects work to ensure people with disability can enjoy their rightful place in our community.
The Chief Minister’s Inclusion Awards provide an annual acknowledgement of the outstanding achievements of businesses, organisations and individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to encourage, welcome and support people with disability in their workplace, business and community.
The 2017 Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence went to The Dandelion Program Canberra, DXC Technology for its innovative IT career development program. Under the program, DXC Technology is currently employing 38 people with autism in a partnership with the ANU, the University of Canberra and Canberra Institute of Technology and other employers including the Australian Department of Human Services, the Department of Defence, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the ANZ Bank.
The program’s focus on life and career skills is unique and goes beyond just providing a job. You can access more information about the program via this YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBFY9ggEIi0
This year, 71 finalists competed for awards and we congratulate all finalists on the incredibly valuable contribution they make to promoting an inclusive Canberra. The award winners by category are:
- Emerging Young Leader – Joint Winners Lenita Premnath & Mitchell McDermott
- Achievement in Inclusion – Winner Anne Walsh
- Excellence in Making Inclusion Happen – Winner Wayne Herbert
- Inclusion in Private Sector Employment – Winner Blackhawk Logistics, (Commended – Charnwood Capital Chemist & Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers)
- Inclusion in Public Sector Employment – Winner Diversity Directorate Department of Defence, (Commended - Employment Inclusion Team ACT Government)
- Inclusion in Education and Training – Winner Six Degrees Café Garden and Gallery, (Commended – Football Connect Capital Football )
- Inclusion in Business – Winner The Dandelion Program Canberra, DXC Technology, (Commended – Smith's Alternative)
- Excellence in Innovation – Winner Warehouse Circus
- Excellence in Championing Human Rights – Winner Fiona May
- Excellence in Volunteer Support – Winner Sian Keys for the Scienceability project
- Excellence in Support Work – Winner Jital Pandya, Commended Alixandra Welin
- Life Time Achievement in Support Work – Winner Lyn Kelly, Commended June Kelly
- Innovation in design to create inclusion of people with disability – Winner Getaboutable
- ACT Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence – Winner The Dandelion Program Canberra, DXC Technology
Thank you to our great Awards sponsors – the ACT Inclusion Council, MAX Employment, Icon Water, House With No Steps, ActewAGL, CIT, National Disability Services, Nexus Human Services, Transport Canberra, Valmar and the ACT Public Trustee and Guardian.
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Andrew Barr, MLA | Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases