2023 NHVic Award Winners

Daylesford Neighbourhood House - Community Hygiene Station

DNC are proud to announce that our log-awaited Community toilet, shower and laundry facility is now open. This outdoor self-contained and disability compliant facility is specifically made available for the homeless and vulnerable in our community. Members of the community who need a shower are welcome to the Centre during business hours. Towels and bathmats are provided, and a washing machine and dryer are also available for use. Toiletries and clean clothes are made available too.

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Rochester Community House - Rochester Community Led Response & Recover

The October 2022 flood event decimated the community of Rochester. Rochester Community House (RCH) was the lead agency in a community led response, relief and recovery. With previous experience, the staff at RCH had the knowledge required to support the community through this darkest time. With this knowledge they enabled an action plan that included a dedicated email, forms for both those in need and those who could help, and among other things. As the entire community was impacted, including almost all businesses, the church and hall was set up to become the local free food hub.

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Banksia Gardens Community Services - Climate Adaptation Requires Youth Action (CARYA)

CARYA is a dynamic youth-led initiative launched in 2020. This program unites a diverse and passionate group of young individuals to address the pressing social and environmental challenges intensified by climate change. CARYA offers a safe space for young people to delve deep into these issues, forging social connections with like-minded peers who share their concerns about the climate crisis. More than discussions, CARYA empowers them to take meaningful action, nurturing a sense of purpose and commitment to safeguarding our planet for future generations.

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Wellsprings for Women Inc. - Be the Voice

In 2022, Wellsprings for Women initiated a capacity-building and co-design project with ten women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to combat family violence. The project evolved into 'Be the Voice', a powerful digital and print magazine addressing gender equality, with a focus on early and forced marriage, coercive control, and sexual assault. The co-designers, representing Afghan, Arabic-speaking, and Indian communities, shared their diverse experiences and insights. The resource fosters inclusivity through multi-lingual content and audio recordings, ensuring accessibility for all, regardless of literacy levels. It challenges the cross-cultural stigma surrounding family violence, empowering migrant women to share their stories and promote self-determination.

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Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association Gathering Place - Willum Warrain Bush Nursery

Willum Warrain Bush Nursery is the only 100% Aboriginal community owned and run Indigenous nursery operating south of Melbourne. The centre specialises in plants endemic to the Mornington Peninsula and share cultural knowledge and stories about the plants we sell, as well as promoting the healing of Country. Plants from Country are the most resilient ones in the face of climate change. Our social enterprise employs nine Aboriginal staff.

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Kensington Neighbourhood House - Green Time Not Screen Time

Green Time Not Screen Time focused on social and emotional recovery for families post-pandemic. Participants reconnected with nature, community and each other through a series of excursions visiting farmland, national parks and the ocean. Local facilitators, Indigenous educators, and bi-cultural therapists worked together to deliver this all-ages project. 206 participants from 48 families took part in this amazing program – building well-being through experiencing the natural world with family and friends.

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