Pilbara Community Services Excellence Awards celebrates individuals and organisations in the region

Karratha came together on the weekend to celebrate and honour Pilbara’s community services sector. The third Pilbara Community Services Excellence Awards, held on Saturday at the Red Earth Arts Precinct, celebrated the resilience, creativity, collaboration and leadership of individuals and organisations in the region. Pilbara for Purpose chairwoman Samara Clark said the night was a culmination of everyone’s hard work over the past year. “I think it’s good that we can sit back and really honour one another and the work that we do,” she said. “I think the NGO sector is one of those areas that does the work without a lot of people seeing it happen, so to put a spotlight on individuals and organisations, it’s not something anyone would do for themselves and it’s important we do it for them.” Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Services chief executive Robby Chibawe said it meant a lot for the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance to win the partnership for medium/large organisation category, which recognised the organisation’s management practices and their improvements in the community sector. “One and a half years later, to get to where we are today, it feels really good,” he said. “We’re really wanting to use PAHA to drive all the changes we want to see in the next 15 to 20 years in regards to Indigenous health.” Pilbara Community Services manager Tracy Flynn-Edward said the celebration was like receiving a pat on the back. “It’s recognition for the services we provide here in the Pilbara and the reintegration of offenders and ex-offenders from Roebourne Regional Prison,” she said. Pilbara Community Services took home the partnership for small organisation award and people’s choice award. Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel said the finalists shortlisted had demonstrated outstanding service to the community and their selfless work had made tremendous difference to the life of many people in the Pilbara and the State.