Mission Australia wins a National Crime Award!

The Youth Assist Program (YAP) which is run in Frankston, Victoria, in partnership with Victoria police, has won a coveted National Crime Award.

The program was one of 8 winners and was selected from a field of 60 national nominations.  The awards this year focused on domestic violence, youth, alcohol-related crime and community safety and were presented by the Hon. Brendan O'Connor at Parliament House in Canberra at 10:30am on Friday 30th October. Dr Annelies Kamp was there to represent Mission Australia and accept a certificate on our behalf.  We received a beautiful framed certificate as a recognition of excellence for the Project: Frankston Police, Mission Australia and Community Youth Assist Program.

The awards are aimed at rewarding good practice in the prevention or reduction of violence and other types of crimes in Australia, to encourage public initiatives and to assist governments in identifying and developing practical projects that will reduce violence and other types of crime in the community.

The annual Australian Crime and Violence Prevention Awards are sponsored by the heads of Australian governments and members of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management - Police, as a joint Australian Government, state and territory initiative.

On behalf of Mission Australia, we would like to acknowledge the wonderful partnership we have with Victoria Police and also acknowledge the dedicated staff who brought this program to fruition.  We would like to especially recognise Jennifer Bain, Youth Transition Worker, for her tireless and expert work on the program, and her also for her perseverance and dedication to the program's youth.

Above photo (L to R):  The Hon Brendan O'Connor, Senior constable Renee Bloomfield (Vic Police), Dr. Annelies Kamp (MA) and Assistant Commissioner Victoria Emmett Dunne (Vic Police).