Victoria’s Tyrrell College - 2011 NAB Schools First National Award Winner!

Congratulations to Tyrrell College (VIC) who were named 2011 NAB Schools First National Award Winner at a ceremony in Melbourne last night. The school will receive a total of $500,000 in awards funding towards its school-community partnership, a student-business mentor program with AWB Grainflow and Agrivision, two leading agricultural businesses within the rural Sea Lake district. Read more about this National Award winning partnership.

Students and police working together for the community

Student Award winners from River Gum Primary School, Kasim Ibrahim and Michael Schreiber, put their partnership idea with the Victoria Police into action when they organised a soccer match in mid-November 2010. This began a process of ethnically diverse students and police getting together to learn more about each other with the aim of fostering mutual trust, respect and communication. The students felt that by having an understanding of the role of the police and consequences of frequently occurring criminal activity in the community, misbehaviour at school may reduce and more productive community relationships will result. Read the latest diary entry.

Find a partner online with the Partnership Matching Service

There are so many great ideas out there for school-community partnerships, yet sometimes the vital missing piece is a partner. NAB Schools First’s Partnership Matching Service is an online ‘dating tool' which seeks to help schools and community organisations find a partner. It's interactive, easy to use and allows you to create your profile around your partnership needs, outcomes and requirements to start searching for potential matches right away. Register to find a partner now!

Bengar Films wins international film award

Congratulations to Bengar Films, the producers of our amazing videos for all NAB Schools First State/Territory Award winners, who won an award at the Chicago International Film Festival 2011 INTERCOM Competition. The award was for the video of the 2010 TAS State Impact Award winner, Montello Primary School’s school-community partnership. The video received the coveted Certificate of Merit for the Community Relations category, trumping a long list of international submissions. Watch the video here.

Better Buddies sponsorships goings fast!

NAB is proud to continue its support of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s Better Buddies Framework into 2012. Next year, 150 primary schools nationally will be given the opportunity to join the Framework in a NAB sponsored position. The Better Buddies Framework helps to create friendly and caring school environments where bullying is reduced. The Framework will complement your school's current transition policy and practices by introducing a buddy system or invigorating your current one. With recruitment of schools well underway, there are now only 50 remaining NAB positions available, so don't miss your chance to join. Nominate your school by visiting www.betterbuddies.org.au.