WA Seniors Awards 2014

Application Kit

Seniors Week 2014

Message from the MinisterOlder people make an outstanding contribution to Western Australian communities. In fact, WA has the fastest growing percentage of seniors of all States and Territories in the country. From 2006 to 2011, our State’s population grew by 14 per cent. The number of seniors grew by 21 per cent.

The WA Seniors Awards, now in its 28th year, is a partnership between the Department of Local Government and Communities and Council on the Ageing WA. It is our annual opportunity to recognise those people, many of them unsung heroes from the seniors’ community, who contribute so much to the lives of older West Australians.

As Minister for Seniors and Volunteering, I am very proud of the number of initiatives that have been introduced by the Liberal-National Government to support seniors to live a healthy and active life, remain independent and stay socially connected.

Seniors are represented in our communities as workers, neighbours, carers, parents and grandparents. The contribution they make as volunteers is vital to the economic and social wellbeing of our communities. The breadth of nominations the WA Seniors Awards receives every year reflects this vitality.

The State Government works in partnership with seniors, community sector organisations and local governments to get the best results for WA’s seniors. So I am pleased that this year age-friendly community sector organisations and local governments will be recognised with two new award categories.

I encourage you to nominate individuals and organisations for the WA Seniors Awards 2014, so their contributions can be recognised and rewarded.

Hon Tony Simpson MLA Minister for Local Government; Community Services; Seniors and Volunteering; Youth

Government of Western AustraliaDepartment of Local Government and Communities

Message from COTA WAThe WA Seniors Awards gives us all the opportunity to recognise, thank and celebrate seniors, organisations that work with seniors and media professionals who have highlighted seniors during the year. These annual awards seek to not only recognise the achievements of the finalists, but also to demonstrate to the wider community that seniors are an asset, not a burden on society.

Through volunteering, seniors make an enormous contribution to the community. It is through this form of ‘giving back’ that so many not for profit organisations are able to provide such a wide range of very high quality services. I know that we could not do half of what we do at COTA WA without our wonderful volunteers, most of whom are seniors.

The media plays a vital role in informing the community about seniors’ issues, and the Deborah Kirwan Awards recognise extra-special media stories that have been published throughout the year.

Local governments and other organisations play a vital role in making WA an age-friendly State. I am pleased that their efforts in making the community age-friendly will be recognised in the WA Seniors Awards for the first time in 2014.

Please join me in acknowledging, recognising, and celebrating West Australian seniors by making a nomination for one of the WA Seniors Awards this year.

Ken Marston Chief Executive Officer COTA WA

The WA Seniors Awards recognise seniors, and those who work with and volunteer for seniors, for their outstanding contributions to Western Australian communities.

Entries close 5pm Friday 29 August 2014. No late entries will be accepted.

Bendigo Bank Community Senior Award

For outstanding voluntary or unpaid work by a senior serving the community. This includes contributions by a senior involved in:

• voluntary or unpaid work• leadership• working with service

organisations, or• serving on committees.

Award prize – $1,000

Selection Criteria

Nominations will be assessed against:

1. How the nominee has demonstrated excellence in her or his field.

2. How the nominee’s work promotes a positive view of seniors and ageing.

3. How the nominee’s work helps the community to address local issues and challenges that affect seniors.

4. How the nominee’s work benefits people, including the range of groups and the number of people involved.

5. How the nominee’s efforts help to strengthen the community’s response to the future needs of seniors.

WA Seniors Awards Categories

Intergenerational Senior Award

Recognises an outstanding senior who works with children and young people aged under 25 years. For example: coaches, grandcarers and volunteers.

Award prize – $1,000

Selection Criteria

Nominations will be assessed against:

1. How the nominee has demonstrated excellence in her or his field.

2. How the nominee’s work promotes a positive view of seniors and ageing.

3. How the nominee’s work helps the community to address local issues and challenges that affect seniors.

4. How the nominee’s work benefits people, including the range of groups and the number of people involved.

5. How the nominee’s efforts help to strengthen the community’s response to the future needs of seniors.

Age Friendly Communities Local Government Award

Recognises a local government authority for its commitment to involving seniors in planning an age-friendly community. This includes involving seniors and seniors’ groups at all planning stages, and incorporating their views into the delivery of services.

Award prize – $1,000

Selection Criteria

Nominations will be assessed against:

1. The importance of the nominee’s work to the community.

2. Demonstration of innovation or new ideas.

3. The impact of the nominee’s work on planning for our ageing population.

4. Who benefits from the nominee’s work, policy, program or activity?

5. How the nominee’s work:

i) strengthens communities

ii) encourages partnerships

iii) creates awareness of seniors’ issues

iv) recognises diversity

v) brings generations together

vi) improves access or participation, or

vii) improves the health or wellbeing of seniors.

6. What measurable change has resulted from the nominee’s work?

Age Friendly Organisation Award

Recognises a community organisation for its innovative planning or service response involving seniors and enhancing opportunities for seniors to lead full and satisfying lives. Examples include:

• health and wellbeing programs, such as physical activities and promoting mental wellbeing and healthy living

• offering mature employment and life-long learning programs, and

• increasing social and economic security.

Award prize – $1,000

Selection Criteria

Nominations will be assessed on:

1. The importance of the nominee’s work to the community.

2. Demonstration of innovation or new ideas.

3. The impact of the nominee’s work on planning for our ageing population.

4. Who benefits from the nominee’s work, policy, program or activity?

5. How the nominee’s work:

i) strengthens communities

ii) encourages partnerships

iii) creates awareness of seniors’ issues

iv) recognises diversity

v) brings generations together

vi) improves access or participation or

vii) improves the health or wellbeing of seniors.

6. What measurable change has resulted from the nominee’s work?

Seniors Advocate Award

For outstanding commitment by a person of any age who advocates for seniors by:

• advancing seniors’ health, wellbeing, education or social situation

• working successfully with seniors to increase understanding between the generations

• undertaking important research into seniors’ issues

• promoting seniors’ issues to improve their wellbeing, or

• achieving outstanding outcomes for seniors in government, a community organisation or business.

Award prize – $1,000

Selection Criteria

Nominations will be assessed on:

1. The importance of the nominee’s work to the community.

2. Demonstration of innovation or new ideas.

3. The impact of the nominee’s work on planning for our ageing population.

4. Who benefits from the nominee’s work, policy, program or activity?

5. How the nominee’s work:

i) strengthens communities

ii) encourages partnerships

iii) creates awareness of seniors’ issues

iv) recognises diversity

v) brings generations together

vi) improves access or participation or

vii) improves the health or wellbeing of seniors.

6. What measurable change has resulted from the nominee’s work?

Deborah Kirwan Media Awards

Recognise journalists and press photographers whose portrayal of seniors and ageing has positively influenced community attitudes towards seniors, increased community awareness of the needs of seniors, or helped to build respect between the generations. There are three sub-categories of awards:

• Print (article published in any publication

with a Western Australian circulation, and including online and social media articles)

• Broadcast (radio and television broadcasts

within Western Australia)

• Photography (photo published in any news

publication circulating in Western Australia).

This award is in honour of the late Deborah Kirwan AM, media personality and former president of Council on the Ageing WA.

Award prize – $600 (per category)

Selection Criteria

Judges will assess each nomination to the extent it:

– challenges stereotypes/myths about ageing

– portrays seniors as contributing members of the community

– builds mutual trust and respect between the generations, or

– encourages the community to plan for its ageing population.

Recognises an outstanding senior for their commitment to Western Australian communities. The Juniper 2014 WA Seniors Champion Award winner will be selected from the winners of the following categories:

• Bendigo Bank Community Senior Award• Intergenerational Senior Award• Seniors Advocate Award (if the winner is aged 60 years

or over at the time of nomination)

Since 1949, Juniper has provided care and accommodation and support services to older Western Australians.

Award Prize – $1,500

Juniper 2014 WA Seniors Champion Award

Message from Rick Ardon WA Seniors Week Ambassador Channel Seven Perth is proud to partner with the Department of Local Government and Communities to support WA Seniors Week and the WA Seniors Awards.

It gives me great pleasure to represent Channel Seven as an ambassador and I’m honoured to be a member of the judging panel for this year’s WA Seniors Awards.

Seniors are an important part of our community and contribute to the flourishing and vibrant places in which we live. It’s fantastic to get behind an initiative that so positively embraces the contributions they make and to recognise the great work that is done for them in the community.

We at Seven look forward to celebrating these valuable achievements and this wonderful week with the seniors in our community.

Rick Ardon

Category Winners

Errol Barlett-Torr Community Award

Osvaldo Almeida beyondblue Inspiration Award for Wellbeing

Barbara Colson Intergenerational Award

Amana Living Enrichment Program Bendigo Bank Active Ageing Leadership Award

Gill Lewin COTA WA Champion for Seniors Award

Deborah Kirwan Media Awards Lisa Morrison – Print Category Jasmine Homer – Electronic Category Nic Ellis – Photography Category

Errol Bartlett-Torr Juniper 2013 WA Senior of the Year

Photographer Errol Bartlett-Torr, 80, was praised by judges for his commitment to his local community of Shark Bay.

A founding member of the Shark Bay Volunteer Marine Rescue group, Errol has been involved in many marine rescues and has put his life at risk to save others. He has used his professional photography skills to document key festivals and events in the region.

Above – 2013 WA Seniors Award winners (L-R): Jasmine Homer, Gill Lewin, Barbara Coulson, Seniors and Volunteering Minister Tony Simpson, Errol Bartlett-Torr, Kylie Mathieson, Nic Ellis, Greg Massam (Amana Living).

Top right – Bendigo Bank State Project Coordinator Ashton King, Dawn Kroeme, Juniper Communications and PR Manager Roley Myers.

Bottom right – Barbara Colson, The Senior Newspaper WA Business Development Manager Patrick Allison.

Department of Local Government and Communities Director General Jennifer Mathews with Errol Bartlett-Torr.

2013 WA Seniors Award winners

Step 1 Choose the award for which you want to nominate. Please note there is a separate form for the Deborah Kirwan Media Awards.

Step 2 Complete the nomination form in the Application Kit.

Step 3 In a separate document, explain the nominee’s achievements by addressing each of the selection criterion for that award (see Selection Criteria). This part of your application must be typed (not handwritten) and no more than 1,000 words. The document must be emailed as an attachment or provided on a USB drive (if

submitting a nomination by post or hand).

Step 4 Attach or include supporting documentation (maximum six A4 pages), which may include newspaper articles, personal references and/or a resumé.

Step 5 Attach or include two portrait photographs of the nominee. Photos must in jpeg format at high resolution, either emailed as attachments or provided on a USB drive (if submitting a nomination by post or hand).

Step 6 Sign the nominator (or nominee – if a self-nomination) declaration in the Application Kit.

How to nominate

Step 1 Choose the sub-category for which you want to nominate.

Step 2 Complete the Deborah Kirwan Media Awards nomination form in the Application Kit.

Step 3 In a separate document, provide a short biography (max. 200 words) about your article, broadcast or photograph.

Step 4 Attach or include:

– Published articles or images, audio files or TV stories on DVD, CD or USB drive

– A copy of the article or feature in which your photo was published

– Any other supporting documentation relevant to your application.

If submitting multiple entries, please ensure the same titles are used on the nomination form and the supporting documentation.

Step 5 Attach or include two portrait photographs of the nominee. Photos must in jpeg format at high resolution, either emailed as attachments or provided on a USB drive (if submitting a nomination by post or hand).

Step 6 Sign the nominator declaration in the Application Kit.

WA Seniors Awards Deborah Kirwan Media Awards

Checklist

Selection criteria has been addressed.

Maximum 1,000 words explaining the achievements of the nominee.

Two high resolution, jpeg photographs of the nominee.

Supporting documents such as a résumé, references and newspaper articles submitted with your application (maximum six A4 pages).

Nomination form completed and signed by the nominator (or nominee – if a self-nomination).

Checklist

Two colour portrait photos of nominee.

Max. 200 words biography on the entry nominated.

Supporting documentation relevant to the application.

Nomination form completed and signed by the nominator (or nominee – if a self-nomination).

Information and key dates

Entries close 5pm Friday 29 August 2014. No late entries will be accepted.

Send nominations to

Post COTA WA, PO Box 7896, Cloisters Square, PERTH WA 6850Hand delivered COTA WA, Suite 1, Level 3, 110 William Street, PERTH WA 6000Email admin@cotawa.org.auFax (08) 9321 2707

More information Contact COTA WA on (08) 9321 2133 or go to www.cotawa.org.au