Award winner 2019
The best of the Northern Territory Public Sector was recognised at the 2019 Chief Minister's Awards for Excellence in the Public Sector at the Darwin Convention Centre on 22 November 2019.
Almost 500 staff, family and supporters attended the annual awards which acknowledge exceptional projects delivered by Northern Territory Government employees.
All finalists for the Chief Minister’s Awards for Excellence in the Public Sector are congratulated on the strength of their entries and their commitment to their work.
Category: Developing Northern Australia
Advancing the Economic Development of the Territory and Securing a Cleaner Energy Future for the Tanami Region
Power and Water Corporation
In 2018, Power and Water Corporation signed a long-term gas supply agreement with Newmont Tanami for its gold mine, 540 kilometres north west of Alice Springs. The $200 million agreement is to transition Newmont Tanami’s operations from diesel fuel to natural gas—a cleaner, more cost effective and reliable power solution with gas emissions reduced by 20%.
Newmont has invested some $500 million in capital works to develop two gas-fired power stations, a 66-kilovolt electricity powerline and a 450-kilometre natural gas pipeline. Work started in February 2019. Newmont’s change to gas will transform the Tanami region. With competitively priced fuel, remote communities like Yuendumu wil have the option to convert from diesel to gas.
Power and Water is using the same approach with other proposed developments given the success of this project.
Category: Strengthening local capability and leadership capacity
Warralnang – We Saw in a Vision
Department of Education
The Gunbalanya Community School is the only remote Indigenous school in Australia to achieve Independent Public School status. Its governance model with an Indigenous board is unique in remote communities in Australia.
Over the last three years, the board has taken steps to develop its knowledge, expertise and decision-making skills and to drive positive change in the school and community. The board has undertaken regular intensive training in governance and has developed an innovative five-year business plan.
The success of the board’s strategic, community-informed approach is evident in three ways:
- teaching and learning using two-way curriculum mapping with a ‘Learning on Country’ program
- creating a seamless transition to employment through small secondary school-based businesses, such as rosella tea and beef jerky.
- community engagement through three committees, working with Indigenous community members and organisations.
Category: Creating opportunities for NT children and families
Mimik-ga Centre
Department of Education
The Mimik-ga Centre opened in 2017 and means ‘children growing’ in the Larrakia language. The centre delivers evidence-based interventions for children with specialist needs and provides a welcoming network for parents. Key to Mimik-ga’s success is early intervention and each child having an individual plan with learning goals.
A number of government’s key programs are located onsite at Mimik-ga, including:
- the Families as First Teachers program
- two Autism Spectrum programs
- a Positive Learning Centre
Since Mimik-ga opened, enrolments in the Families as First Teachers program have more than doubled, and the Autism Spectrum programs support students from more than half of Darwin and Palmerston’s government schools.
In 2019, the service was expanded to include more NT-wide services, including specialist support in teaching, speech and occupational therapy, and hearing services.
Category: Strengthening government integrity and public administration
Bushfires Emergency Management System
Bushfires NT/Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Bushfire is a significant risk for Territory communities, businesses and the environment. The new Bushfire Emergency Management System, has transformed to a purpose-built software program that makes it easier to record, process and share bushfire management information.Previously, recording fire incident information was entirely paper based. Sharing critical information relied on communication between responders, often leading to information gaps and a delayed post-fire review.
The system is now a one-stop digital shop for bushfire mitigation and emergency response. Volunteers and staff know exactly what’s going on in real time, leading to better fuel-reduction activities and fire response decisions. The system also generates and distributes timely critical public safety information.
Volunteers and firefighters can now access the system using mobile devices, anywhere, setting a new benchmark in the way government distributes public information.
Category: Excellence in partnering
Arafura Games Business Engagement Program and Arafura Games Support
Department of Trade, Business and Innovation
The Business Engagement Program ran alongside the Arafura Games from 29 April to 4 May this year.The program targeted international investment in the Territory by inviting partners and influencers from neighbouring nations to attend.
Sectors highlighted were tourism, agribusiness, oil and gas service and supply, health, minerals and energy, international education, innovation, and economic and industry development. The program involved 18 events, including four VIP sessions, 15 sector-based forums, site tours and small business sessions. More than 500 people attended from 14 countries including China and the United Arab Emirates.
Hosting the program alongside the Arafura Games delivered positive outcomes for the NT, including increasing international visitation, building relationships and growing investment opportunities in the Territory.
Category: Making the NT a better place to live through innovation
Top End Health Service Cognitive and Delirium Care in Hospital Project
Department of Health
Delirium is a medical emergency and is often under-recognised or misdiagnosed. The Department of Health’s Cognitive and Delirium Care in Hospital Project developed and implemented the ‘Integrated Cognitive Care Pathway’, a new approach to improve the safety and quality of care for patients with cognition and delirium risks.
The pathway includes a new, culturally relevant cognition screen, new delirium medical management guidelines and a model of care that incorporates prevention and care strategies and systems involving all staff in patient contact. It has resulted in a reduction of harmful events, mortality, length of stay, improved detection and care, and an informed and equipped workforce.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care and other jurisdictions have recognised the project’s success, with requests to view or use the resources the project developed, particularly the Top End Health Service Cognition Screen.
Category: Improving inclusion and diversity employment outcomes
Aboriginal Cultural Security Framework
Territory Families
Created in 2018, the Aboriginal Cultural Security Framework aligns and integrates Aboriginal cultural rights, views and experiences with Territory Families' services, systems and governance. It celebrates the strength of Aboriginal culture and history and helps Territory Families partner with Aboriginal organisations to build relationships with Aboriginal children, families and communities.
In Territory Families, the framework guided its Aboriginal Workforce Plan to grow the agency’s Aboriginal workforce. The consultation process to design the framework involved face-to-face meetings and input from more than 600 staff and service providers across the Territory, broken down into 150 contributors from 30 diverse organisations.
An Aboriginal Advisory Group of 17 staff from across all regions guides the agency's work toward cultural security.
Category: Excellence in customer service
FACES/CIT Reform – Enhancing Client Experience
Territory Families
Territory Families has reformed one of its core child protection services—the Central Intake Service—to incorporate the findings of the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
The reform included creating a new service: Territory FACES (Family and Children Enquiries and Support). The new FACES team provides a referral and information phone service to help with everyday parenting challenges, rebuilding family relationships, home support, managing money or crisis accommodation.
The demand for child protection services continues to escalate, and the purpose of the new model is to integrate the child protection service with early intervention services to help prevent vulnerable children and families from entering the child protection system.
