The 2011 Regional Achievement and Community Awards will be officially launched across regional Victoria. The search is on for individuals and group high achievers, towns and communities that are making a difference to their communities through their hard work, dedication and innovation.

• Thursday 28th April – MILDURA at the Committee Room, Deakin Avenue Service Centre, proudly sponsored by the Mildura Rural City Council. Launch starts at 10.30am with a free morning tea and concludes at 11.30am.
  
  
• Tuesday 3rd May – WODONGA in the Wodonga TAFEspace, 158 Lawrence Street, proudly sponsored by the City of Wodonga. Launch starts at 10.30am with a free morning tea and concludes at 11.30am.
  
  
• Wednesday 4th May – BALLARAT at the Town Hall, Sturt Street, proudly sponsored by Ballarat City Council. Launch starts at 10.30am with a free morning tea and concludes at 11.30am.
  
  

Everyone is welcome. Contact the Awards office on 03 9720 2277 or email vic@awardsaustralia.com.

All winners will be presented with a trophy and a prize in the relevant category

• Regional Development Victoria Business Achievement Award – The winner will receive a television airtime package comprising 20 x 30 second airtime commercials on the Prime Network
  (* conditions apply).
  
  
• Regional Development Victoria Trade and Career Achievement Award – The winner will receive a television airtime package comprising 20 x 30 second airtime commercials on the Prime Network
  (* conditions apply).
  
  
• Parks Victoria Regional Achiever Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Parks Victoria Environment and Sustainability Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Fonterra Dairy Leadership Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Medibank Healthy Participation Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• BlueScope Distribution Leadership and Innovation Award – The winners will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Department of Sustainability and Environment Water Efficiency Improvements Award – The winner will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Beaurepaires Road Safety Award ­ The winners will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• Prime Super Community Group of the Year Award ­ The winners will receive a $2,000 Goalsaver Account from the Commonwealth Bank.
  
  
• All nominees and finalists will receive a letter of congratulations and a certificate of encouragement for their nomination.
  
  
• All cash prizes will be Goalsaver accounts presented in Commonwealth Bank envelopes
  

*Bonus airtime commercial spots include local exposure for the winner in the Regional Development Victoria Business Achievement and Trade and Career Achievement section.

AWARDS PRESENTATION

The finalists and winners of the Regional Achievement and Community Awards for Victoria will be announced at a special gala awards presentation dinner to be held at the Mercure Ballarat Hotel and Convention Centre. This will take place on Saturday 15th October 2011.

The presentation dinner will be a formal event attended by over 400 people including VIP guests.

	Regional Development Victoria Business Achievement Award In regional and rural areas successful businesses are making important economic contributions. Creative business and commercial ventures provide opportunities for regional growth, productivity, leadership, training and employment. Businesses are continuing to realise their corporate vision and mission in areas such as product development, manufacturing and construction, agriculture, primary industry, e-commerce, wholesaling, exporting, retailing, trades and other professional services. The Regional Development Victoria Business Achievement Award will acknowledge and highlight the continued success and achievements of business leaders and businesses.
	Regional Development Victoria Trade and Career Achievement Award Regional Victorian’s are pursuing their trade or career with passion and vitality. Whether it is climbing the corporate ladder, progressing from apprentice to workshop manager, or starting their own small business employing fellow Victorian’s, they are proving that career success can start anywhere. The Trade & Career Achievement Award promotes a community focus, active leadership, a desire for self-improvement, and reward those who make their own opportunities a success.
	Parks Victoria Regional Achiever Award The Regional Achiever Award applauds our unsung heroes and high achievers, acknowledging excellence in a chosen profession or field of endeavour. It might be sport, art, culture, regional initiative, primary industry, agriculture, academia or it could be an act of bravery that deserves recognition. This Award presents an opportunity for our whole community to gain inspiration from their dedication, commitment, leadership or act of heroism. The Regional Achiever Award will pay tribute to their contribution to the community.
	Parks Victoria Environment and Sustainability Award The Environment and Sustainability Award acknowledges individuals, groups and organisations that show a proven passion and dedication to reducing environmental impacts in regional and rural areas. By implementing environmental, land care and sustainability practices on their properties or within the local community, land owners and the broader community have shown increased commitment to raising awareness, knowledge and understanding of environmental issues, which will in turn help to protect the planet’s vital resources. This Award will recognise individuals, groups and organisations that aim to improve our patterns of consumption and environmental behaviour. They are environmentally conscious and understand that future generations will be dependant on the environment, and their actions will encourage sustainable and responsible development in the future.
	Fonterra Dairy Leadership Award The Fonterra Dairy Leadership Award recognises individuals, farmers and farm businesses, community groups, and research and training bodies who contribute to the success and sustainability of the Victorian dairy industry through leadership, innovation or a significant contribution to dairying communities. The winner will be involved in the Victorian dairy industry in one of the following areas: primary production; research and development; education and training; or health and dairy-based nutrition. Dairy is an important and historical part of regional Victorian communities, contributing to employment and the economy. We encourage those who are passionate about dairy and making a real difference to the Victorian dairying communities to nominate.
	Medibank Healthy Participation Award The Medibank Healthy Participation Award was developed to recognise and reward the efforts of individuals, volunteers, health professionals, community groups, businesses and organisations in regional and rural Victoria that are dedicated to improving community health and wellbeing. There are many people in our communities who are innovative and passionate about helping others understand the importance of nutrition and physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle. It may be providing assistance for the aged, sick or injured. Or it may be a program to encourage innovative and health-focused activities in the workplace, gym, community groups or in sport. The Medibank Healthy Participation Award acknowledges those that help others to adopt a healthy lifestyle or work/life balance, enhancing quality of life for all.
	BlueScope Distribution Leadership and Innovation Award Tenacity, dedication, selflessness, leadership and innovative thinking are the key qualities of those amazing individuals who are the “driving force” in their community. These individuals are at the forefront of community contribution in their field of endeavour. They may have overcome significant difficulty, adversity or hardship to achieve excellent outcomes and raise pride in the community and our state. They may have pioneered significant changes in their community, business or organisation that have altered the way people think and perform for the better. The BlueScope Distribution Leadership & Innovation Award will acknowledge role models who through their leadership, innovation and driving force pave the way for others to follow.
	Department of Sustainability and Environment Water Efficiency Improvements Award The Department of Sustainability and Environment Water Efficiency Improvements Award acknowledges regional Victorian businesses, community groups, farmers and irrigators, schools and households that are endeavoring to improve their water efficiency. Whether it is to water gardens or crops, use in sports and community facilities, or as part of agricultural or business process, this award recognises water saving methods, initiatives and innovative water efficiency ideas put into practice. Nominees of the Water Efficiency Improvements Award will demonstrate innovative ways to capture water, reduce water use, redirect or recycle water efficiently and effectively, or other water efficiency initiatives. Nominees show a commitment to ongoing improvements in water efficiency and have risen to the challenge of more sustainable water practices.
	Beaurepaires Road Safety Award At Beaurepaires, we recognise brave, heroic or humanitarian deeds by individuals, groups and organisations on the road. The intention of the Beaurepaires Road Safety award is to highlight and publicise the many positive and vital contributions individuals make to road safety, and to encourage road safety in the community. Nominations can be made by anybody who feels there has been an act of genuine benefit to others on the road. It may be developing and running community road safety events, heroic deeds on the road, creating a safer community via road safety initiatives or working with young people to develop safer young drivers.
	Prime Super Community Group of the Year Award The Prime Super Community Group of the Year Award provides well deserved recognition for groups and organisations who make a significant contribution to and for their community. These awards aim to recognise groups and organisations that have made a difference to regional and rural Victoria. These community groups share a strong sense of community spirit, which plays a vital role in enhancing the social, economic, commercial and environmental prosperity of their region. Whether it be working together on an event, restoration project, providing a service, program or a project, it is important to recognise and encourage these groups and organisations, as their efforts help to make regional communities stronger, more vibrant, and help to promote a true community spirit for this and future generations to come.