Community Champions

Congratulations to all our nominees and Community Champions!

Winners

Group Champions - Reach Her Inc

A relative newcomer to our community, Reach Her has already had a profound impact – particularly for women from diverse backgrounds – through their wellbeing and business educational programs. Over the past year and half, Reach Her has supported more than 300 women to build the skills necessary to create their own employment, gain entry into work and to become financially independent. They currently conduct a fortnightly workshop at both Vic Park Community Centre and Hillview Intercultural Community Centre. More info.

Young Champion - Charlotte Wheeler

An early founding member of the Town’s Young Leaders program, Charlotte is committed to bettering our local community and has been a huge help to others in understanding the issues and challenges impacting our young communities. Through the Young Leaders group, Charlotte has strived to make the kind of change that matters to young people, and has been a dependable and valued influence in this area.

Local Champion - Manuao TeAotonga

Manuao wears many hats – dad, husband, makeup artist, community activist – and is committed to making Vic Park a more inclusive and empowered place. The founder of Vic Park Pride, Manuao has had a hand in many positive outcomes for our Town, including the evolution of a community art project into his children's book, "Walken”. which features a rainbow zebra character and carries a powerful message: being different is something to celebrate! Manuao has also established two social media groups for East Vic Park and Vic Park/Burswood, encouraging a sense of community vigilance and demonstrably making our neighbourhoods safer places to be.

Highly Commended

Rowena Skinner

Rowena is a founding volunteer member of the Victoria Park Centre for the Arts (VPCA), having been with the organisation since its start. Rowena's long-term involvement as a volunteer for the Arts Centre has included practical and business-related contributions, and her influence has been invaluable in propelling the Centre to become the unique and valued community resource it is today for Victoria Park residents of all ages, as well as the broader artistic community.

Kelsi Forrest

Kelsi is a young and emerging leader in the Aboriginal community of Perth. She is a Whadjuk, Barladong Minang Nyungar and she has always been passionate about community, taking on several leadership roles through school, university and work. Kelsi has long been involved with the Town of Victoria Park in a volunteer capacity, assisting with the initiation of our Mindeera Aboriginal Advisory Group. In the early days she was only one of two Aboriginal people working alongside the Town to advise on matters relevant to local indigenous peoples, and to support strategic planning in these areas. Now, eight years later, Kelsi Chairs the group, which comprises six community members, three Town Councillors and three Community Development officers.