Past We Are Brimbank Awards Winners

Utsav Melbourne Association

Utsav Melbourne Association Incorporated is a not-for-profit, charitable and cultural organisation, formed by a group of intellectual Indian-Australians in professions of engineering, medicine, banking and IT.

They are based out of the western suburbs of Melbourne, dedicated to promoting and sharing the rich cultural heritage and traditions of India. While doing so, they offer professional expertise towards positively influencing the lives of community members who need it the most, through assistance programs, donations in cash or kind, and offering intellectual charity to improve physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing of the community.

Defib In Your Street

In 2021-22, 7,361 Victorians suffered an out-of-hospital sudden cardiac arrest – 285 of these occurred within Albanvale, Kealba, Kings Park and St Albans. The St John Ambulance Victoria, Defib In Your Street program aims to significantly increase cardiac arrest survival rates in Victoria through community knowledge of CPR, as well as critical access to defibrillators that are accessible 24/7, within residential areas. They are also currently running free accredited CPR classes at the Westvale Community Centre and are also able to run private classes for free for local community groups within the 3021 postcode.

Joint winners: Friends of Iramoo

The Friends of Iramoo are passionate about the natural environment in Brimbank. Their main focus has been to restore the three remnant native grasslands in Cairnlea that support threatened plants and animals, including the charming Striped Legless Lizard and the curious Button Wrinklewort. They want our Brimbank community to love the grasslands as much as they do and take every opportunity to share their knowledge and enthusiasm.

Joint winners: Friends of Sydenham Park

The Friends of Sydenham Park were established in 2020 to restore and preserve the natural flora and fauna within Sydenham Park and surrounding lands and waterways. The Friends of Sydenham Park is a 'grass roots' community organisation of volunteers who are dedicated to the vision of developing Sydenham Park into the ‘Jewel in the Crown’ of Brimbank Council's recreational areas. The Friends of Sydenham Park’s mission is to work with local and state government, and other community organisations, to preserve and promote the environmental, cultural heritage, ecological and recreational attributes of the park.

Auschin Group

The Auschin Group is a registered social enterprise focused on providing employment opportunities for the asylum seekers and refugees in community, particularly those from Myanmar. The majority of refugees from Myanmar arrived in Australia without any means. Due to a lack of skills, qualifications, and a language barrier, many people have difficulty finding employment. The Auschin Group gives them required training and the competence and self-assurance they need in the workplace while speaking their mother tongue.

Hester Hornbrook Academy

Hester Hornbrook Academy provides equal access to quality education and wellbeing supports to ensure all young people reach their full potential. Equal value is placed on both wellbeing and education, ensuring that young people are ready and able to achieve educational success.

The Hester Hornbrook Academy believes that education is a critical tool for young people to create their own future. Education should not just focus on an academic outcome but be holistic and meet the wider needs of a young person.