City of Mandurah receives award for exceptional contribution to public health

The City has been recognised for its outstanding work in the mental health and wellbeing space.

It took out the main award in the Public Health Advocacy Institute’s 2021 Local Government Policy Awards.

The 11th annual awards, hosted by the Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia (PHAIWA) based at Curtin University, aims to promote and celebrate local governments that demonstrate outstanding commitment to the health of children and youth.

Named overall winner, the City of Mandurah entered in all eight categories, winning two categories: Mental Health and Wellbeing and Creating Healthy Environment, and receiving commendations in three others including Young People Making a Difference and COVID Recovery and Response.

The City, alongside the Shire of Halls Creek, also received the new Trailblazer’s Award, which recognises innovation in tackling complex public health issues.

The Shire of Harvey was named the 2021 Regional Award Winner, as well as taking top honours in the Promoting Health Behaviours category.

PHAI Director Dr Christina Pollard congratulated every local government that was recognised at the awards, highlighting the important role that they play in driving positive change in Western Australian communities.

“These awards highlight how well a local government is doing in relation to developing and implementing policies and projects to protect the future health of children in the community,” Dr Pollard said.

“This year’s categories are reflective of current and emerging public health priorities that will help to build and maintain social, built and natural environments that support healthy children and youth.”

Senior Research Fellow Dr Melissa Stoneham said it was great to see so many projects focusing on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and youth this year.

“Not only are local governments working to improve their health and development programs, they are also working towards strengthening an understanding of Indigenous culture,” Dr Stoneham said.

“This year the winning project was ‘Olabud Doogethu’, a collaboration between the Shire of Halls Creek, Social Reinvestment WA and 11 Aboriginal communities, designed to provide better futures and opportunities.

“With Indigenous sovereignty and empowerment at the heart, the Project, which was fully led by Aboriginal people for local Aboriginal people, aimed to address the urgent and unacceptable circumstances of disadvantage many young people living in the area are subject to.”

The awards were presented by the Hon Dan Caddy MLC, Member for North Metropolitan Region on behalf of Hon John Carey MLA, the Minister for Housing; Local Government.

The 2021 Local Government Policy Awards are supported by the Commissioner for Children and Young People Mr Colin Petit, Healthway, WALGA, Act Belong Commit, and Environmental Health Australia.

For further information on the awards, visit here.