Lindsay Tanner, Federal Member for Melbourne has congratulated the Melbourne Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board (MFB) and the Australian Red Cross for their nationally significant projects that received Australian Safer Communities Awards yesterday.

Attorney-General Robert McClelland presented the two teams with their respective awards at a ceremony held at Old Parliament House in Canberra on Thursday 3 December.

Lindsay Tanner said: “These awards recognise projects developed to help people facing with the effects of a critical emergency – one helps with preparation and the other with the recovery stage.”

The MFB won the nationally significant category this year for the production of basic home fire safety training qualifications for community sector workers.

Lindsay Tanner said: “This excellent project developed by the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board in Melbourne will improve community safety outcomes in all states and territories.”

The Australian Red Cross which is based in Melbourne was recognised for the development an interactive children’s book on coping with emergencies with a Highly Commended award for a nationally significant project.

Lindsay Tanner said: “This book will help children to better understand and articulate their emotions following the impact of an emergency or disaster.

“The resource also includes information parents, guardians, carers and teachers, and has great tips to assist them when talking to children who have experienced the trauma of a crisis.”

Mr McClelland said: “In this 10th year of these national awards, I am again impressed with the initiative, quality and innovation of these emergency related projects.

“The dedication and commitment of the project teams responsible is clearly evident. They have identified real needs in the community and gone about devising ways to help their local residents be safer and more secure in the event of an emergency.”

Across the country some 75 projects were entered for consideration in this year’s Awards, resulting in 14 projects receiving winner and highly commended awards for 2009. The Awards are promoted by the Attorney-General’s Department through emergency services agencies and departments, non-government emergency related organisations, volunteer groups and private enterprise. 

Media contacts:

Nardia Dazkiw (Minister Tanner’s office) 0418 144 690

Daniel Gleeson (Attorney-General’s office) 0409 562 425