The accolades keep coming for the Gannawarra

Published on 05 August 2022

Gannawarra Shire Council’s efforts to support its residents continue to be recognised, with its National Disability Insurance Scheme service a finalist for the 2022 Premier’s Sustainability Award.

The service, which Council has been providing since January 2019, is a finalist in the Industry Leader category for the Healthy and Fair Society title.

“It is an honour for Council to be recognised for providing NDIS services to our small rural community,” Gannawarra Shire Council Manager Community Care, Carole Wandin said.

“We are renowned in the Mallee region as a leader in the NDIS sector, and we are proud to be the only Victorian rural or regional Council to be an approved NDIS provider.”

Since its implementation, Council’s NDIS support has grown to assist 124 participants living in the Gannawarra and created an extra 49 community-based jobs and two administration jobs.

Council’s NDIS support also complements key programs such as its Social Meals and the Gannawarra Non-Emergency Transport Service in providing important connections to the community.

“Providing NDIS services is ensuring participants and their family members are able to enjoy improved quality of life, as well as personal growth and development without having to leave the Gannawarra,” Mrs Wandin said.

“Being an approved NDIS provider has also provided positive flow-on benefits to staff, with the service generating an extra 49 community-based jobs and two administration jobs.”

Category winners will be announced during a ceremony at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Tuesday, 20 September, with the event to also feature the presentation of a Premier’s Recognition Award and Premier’s Regional Recognition Award – an award Council won in 2018 for it support of large-scale solar projects.

“Council congratulates our Community Care team for providing a vital service to the community and being recognised in these esteemed awards,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Tom O’Reilly said.

“We are one of four councils, and the only small rural council, recognised as finalists in these awards open to businesses, community groups and government agencies across Victoria, which again helps put the Gannawarra on the map.”