The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research Centre (The Centre) has been honoured in the first Minister for Communities Award for Excellence in workforce developments at a presentation dinner on Tuesday night in Brisbane.

The Centre was 1 of 5 finalists in the Culturally Inclusive Practice Category and won the award for the Regional Nomination Area in this category.

The Centre’s Director, Heather Nancarrow was very pleased to accept the award with Jackie Huggins, member of the Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group.

“While the award is very much appreciated in terms of recognising the Centre’s work, it plays a more important role in highlighting that mainstream agencies can successfully develop strategies to engage with culturally and linguistically diverse communities,” Heather said.

“I hope that other agencies will be inspired to implement such strategies”.

The award recognises the Centre's diverse work practices including the Indigenous Research worker position; Indigenous Research Scholarship; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group; Annual Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Forum; the Project “Through the Eyes of Blackfellas” and the Memoradum of Understanding with the Immigrant Women’s Support Service.

Photo caption: Representatives of The Queensland Centre for Domestic and Family Violence research centre accept their award for the first Minister for Communities Award for Excellence in the ‘Culturally Inclusive Practice’ as winner of the Regional Nomination area.

Left to right: Siyavash Doostkhah – Executive Director of Youth Affairs Network of Queensland; The Honourable Warren Pitt, MP, Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Seniors and Youth; Jackie Huggins, member of Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Reference Group; Heather Nancarrow, Director, Centre for Domestic and Family Violence Research.