Two paramedics from North Queensland have taken out top honours at the state finals of the Australian Safer Communities Awards in Kedron, Brisbane this morning. Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Neil Roberts presented awards at the ceremony, applauding the work of all entrants for striving to make Queensland a safer place.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Two paramedics from North Queensland have taken out top honours at the state finals of the Australian Safer Communities Awards in Kedron, Brisbane this morning.
Minister for Police, Corrective Services and Emergency Services Neil Roberts presented awards at the ceremony, applauding the work of all entrants for striving to make Queensland a safer place.
“Anyone out there doing their bit to prevent incidents which might cause injury or even death to Queenslanders deserves to be recognised,’’ Mr Roberts said.
“Palm Island paramedics Ian Day and David Kain were deserving winners in the State Government category for their development of a program to decrease the number of marine stinger envenomations on the island,” he said.
“The Palm Island program, which included community education, vinegar stations and making stinger suits available at a discounted price, had reduced the number of marine envenomations from 25 to five from one season to the next.
“To have decreased the number of marine envenomations in one community in one year by such a huge amount is phenomenal.
“I congratulate the work of these individuals and all those here today who have recognised a need and have acted upon it.”
Mr Roberts said the Palm Island project is now a finalist in the national awards to be judged later this year.
“The Australian Safer Communities Awards recognise best practice, and innovation by organisations and individuals that help to build safer communities across Australia,” he said.
“The awards are an initiative of the Australian Government’s Attorney General’s Department - covering all aspects of emergency management including risk assessment, research, education and training, information and knowledge management and prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.
“The people behind these innovative projects are deserving recipients and demonstrate the remarkable calibre of Queensland emergency services staff working to enhance community safety in our state.”
Highly Commended awards in the Local Government Category were awarded to the Moreton Bay Regional Council and Logan City Council for road safety projects.
The Street Angels project which targets and provides support for at risk young people and intoxicated and/or distressed young adults on the Sunshine Coast was also awarded a Highly Commended in the Volunteer Organisations and Community Groups category.
Media Contact: Minister’s office – 3239 0199; DCS Media – 3247 8186
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