Congratulations to our State/Territory Award Winners

Following the announcement of our 107 Seed Funding and Impact Award Winners, the Schools First team have spent the last 10 days travelling around Australia to announce our 2010 State/Territory Award Winners. Congratulations to the following schools who have received a total of $100,000 in funding for their school-community partnerships:

• QLD - Centenary Heights State High School
• WA - John Forrest Senior High School
• NT - Nightcliff Primary School
• SA - Quorn Area School
• VIC - Sacred Heart School Fitzroy
• TAS - Montello Primary School
• NSW - Ballina High School

To find out more about these outstanding school-community partnerships, click here.

National Award Winner announced 26 November in Sydney

The seven State/Territory Award Winners are now in contention for the National Award title which will be announced at a ceremony in Sydney on Friday, 26 November. The National Award Winner will receive a further $400,000 towards their school-community partnership. The winner will be announced on the Schools First website. Good luck to them all.

Seed Funding winner grows to Impact Award

When the 2010 Impact Award Winners were announced, it was pleasing to see three of our 2009 Seed Funding schools among the winners' names. One of these schools is Corinda State High School, QLD, who are in partnership with Volunteer QLD to provide community partners with student volunteers. The students earn bonus points for volunteering, which goes towards completing a Certificate I in Active Volunteering. The benefits for the students and the community have been far reaching with students demonstrating leadership skills while taking more responsibility for the world in which they live. Read more about this partnership.

NAB staff rewarded for working with Canberra College

Four NAB staff members have been recognised for their work with 2009 National Award Winner, Canberra College, by receiving the Significant Contribution Award. Tracy Henry, Anthony Van Kooten, Matthew McGuire and Julie Hammond, who is also the Schools First Relationship Manager for the College, were nominated by Jan Marshall, a teacher at the College, for setting up a financial literacy program at the school. The four have volunteered their time over the last 12 months to teach young mothers financial independence and decision making. They will celebrate their award win with the Governor General at a reception in Canberra on Friday. Read more.

Volunteer program assists Seed Funding winner in Kununurra

As part of NAB's Reconciliation Action Plan, a number of skilled NAB volunteers are given the opportunity to participate in short-term secondments in the East Kimberly region, WA, working on Indigenous social development projects and assisting Aboriginal people in remote communities. NAB joins five other corporate organisations in this initiative and it's great to see that one of the secondees is working on the Joodoogeb-be-gerring Werlemen Program, a 2010 Seed Funding award winning partnership between Kununurra District High School and a number of local community organisations. From all accounts, secondee Kate is enjoying her time working on this program.  Read more about this partnership.

See the Sculpture By The Sea

NAB is proud to continue its support of 'Sculpture By The Sea' which will see the spectacular Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk transformed by 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and around the world. The NAB Kids Choice Prize will provide children with the opportunity to vote for their favourite sculpture and win a $100 NAB Smart Junior Saver, while the winning artist will receive $3000. The NAB Schools Education Program, featuring artist led workshops and study tours, will run each day during the exhbition which is being held between 28 October and 14 November, 2010. Click here for more information.