Deputy chief executive of St. Pat’s and chair of SWMPF Michael Piu, former executive director of SWMPF Karin MacArthur and SWMPF leadership group community representative Maureen Colgan.
Camera IconDeputy chief executive of St. Pat’s and chair of SWMPF Michael Piu, former executive director of SWMPF Karin MacArthur and SWMPF leadership group community representative Maureen Colgan. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

St Patrick’s receives two awards at Public Aministration WA Achievement Awards

Jessica NicoFremantle Gazette

A COLLECTION of local not-for-profits working together to better the community has won not one, but two awards at the recent Public Administration WA 2016 Achievement Awards.

The South West Metropolitan Partnership Forum (SWMPF), a St Patrick’s Community Support Centre initiative that brings together 80 organisations from around Fremantle, Cockburn and Melville to work on important social issues, won the awards for Best Practice in Collaboration Between Government and Non-Government Organisations and Innovation in the Not For Profit Sector.

Local projects since its inception three years ago include addressing the disadvantage around Beaconsfield’s Davis Park, co-ordinating services for those living with complex needs and working with vulnerable eight to 13 year olds at three local schools.

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SWMPF executive director Karin MacArthur said they were thrilled with the two awards.

“SWMPF represents a very different approach to addressing complex social issues that are beyond the capacity of individual organisations,” she said.

“By creating a broad coalition of different community partners, we’ve been able to bring a wealth of varied expertise to the table as we tackle these challenges.

“It’s this depth of experience and the different perspectives offered that has enabled SWMPF to come up with effective, innovative projects.

“These awards are a fantastic recognition of our work, but the positive feedback we’ve heard from our kids, teachers, parents and residents has been the true reward.”