Big Win for Community Benefits Strategy

The partnership between the Wirrpanda Foundation, Town of Victoria Park, West Coast Eagles and Perth Football Club has won the national award for the Community Based Initiative of the Year at the 2020 Parks and Leisure National Awards of Excellence.

After winning the regional award earlier this year, the initiative progressed through to the national awards to compete with other strong projects from around Australia, including Blacktown City Council (NSW/ACT), Fraser Coast Regional Council (QLD), National Parks and Wildlife Service SA (SA/NT) and Belgravia Leisure (VIC/TAS).

Launched in December 2019, the strategy enables the project partners to use their strengths to deliver a wide range of programs focusing on outcomes in employment, health, education, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander wellbeing, youth engagement and social inclusion.

As part of the strategy, the Wirrpanda Foundation engages local youth in the weekly after school program, Wirra Club. Utilising our strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models, Wirra Club delivers activities focusing on a mix of health, wellbeing, physical activity and digital literacy skills such as coding, photography and robotics.

General Manager of Community Development, Troy Cook said the Foundation was very proud of the partnership between the Wirrpanda Foundation, West Coast Eagles, Town of Victoria Park and Perth Football Club.

“The benefits that are being delivered to the community are amazing. We are especially proud of what we are doing here with the Town of Victoria Park Community Benefits Strategy. I’d also like to congratulate the other nominees for all the great work they are doing,” Cook said.

Wirra Club is hosted every Wednesday from 3pm, and is open to all local and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.