The City of Albany took home an award for Outstanding Local Government Authority supporting a Compassionate Community Approach at the recent Palliative Care in WA Awards gala.
This year the focus and categories of the Palliative Care in WA Awards were broadened to reflect Compassionate Communities, an international movement where communities have an active role in supporting those experiencing death, dying, care giving, grief and loss.
The judging panel commended the City of Albany and finalists, City of Cockburn and the City of Melville for leading the way in their ongoing efforts to create communities that are compassionate, resilient and responsive.
Over the past few years, through the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care pilot measure, WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) has partnered with the City of Albany to deliver a Compassionate Communities framework to the Great Southern region of WA.
The Framework encourages communities and neighbourhood networks to play a much stronger role in supporting people, their families and carers at the end of life. It comes from a public health approach that encourages people to adopt an understanding that health is everyone’s responsibility.
Local government plays an important role in contributing to the social wellbeing of communities. The partnership with the City of Albany has enabled crucial access to existing services, particularly through its delivery of community services, social planning, and human services and the resulting network of relationships.
The influence of the City’s programs and services on people’s sense of connection to their community, and overall community wellbeing is a key determinant in achieving public health outcomes.
Read more about Compassionate Communities and our work with the City of Albany here.
Congratulations to the City of Albany, WAPHA’s Great Southern team and the Compassionate Communities team on the well-deserved award.
