Each year, Soroptimist Clubs and Regions are invited to nominate a project for the Best Practice Award. В The projects need to demonstrate their excellence in planning, administering and evaluating a project to transform lives for women and girls around the Federation, В This is a prestigious award, showcasing projects which have achieved results.

This is the 2017 Best Practice Award winners.

SI Bayside - Stick it to ViolenceВ PFR 49312

This project, "Stick it to Domestic Violence” was essentially a community education project. It aimed to raise awareness of the issues and educate the whole Redlands community that domestic and family violence is not to be tolerated- Not Now, Not Ever! It was also to suggest an alternative philosophy- “non- violence is contagious- give it to a friend.” Partnerships were formed with a number of community based organisations, including the local council. Funding, obtained through an application by SI Bayside and made available as a template to other organisations, made possible the distribution of 60,000 stickers to every household in the area which had been identified as a “hot spot. Stickers were placed on garbage trucks and council vehicles as well as in other public areas ensured community wide distribution and monitoring and evaluation was thorough and relevant. This was a well-planned, executed and evaluated project which was selected by the Department of Communities, Services and Disabilities as an exemplar of “communities working together.”

SI Region of South QLD - Photo Voice PFR 41683

This project was phase 2 of a previous project which aimed to give a voice to victims and to demonstrate through their voices the need to eliminate Domestic Violence. It involved the production and distribution of a book containing photos and the stories of women for practitioners in the field throughout Queensland. The project involved production of the book within budget, and a plan for distribution and monitoring and was carefully planned and evaluated. 7000 books were produced and distributed throughout the region by clubs and other organisations. Storage, distribution and monitoring were all tracked to ensure efficiency and avoid duplication. Feedback has been positive and this ambitious project achieved its carefully delineated aims.

SI Gold Coast - Sewing Circle for Migrant WomenВ PFR 41777

Their project “Sewing Circle for Migrant Women” is one which has transformed the lives of African refugee women and has enabled them to acquire not only specific skills but increased confidence, improved language and the establishment of a support group.

SI Invercargill - Murihiku Young Parents Learning Centre PFR 41309

Murihiku Young Parents Learning CentreВ is a project that ensures that teenage mothers have access to the best possible opportunity to achieve future employment by providing mentoring and advocacy on their behalf to ensure that they can achieve their potential. Each young woman is provided with help that is specific to her needs. This may include but is not limited to CV preparation, mentoring, work experience, career advice in specialist areas, grooming and community work. Practical experience through work experience has been facilitated and part time work has been provided. These young mothers are better prepared for work and testimonials validate the effectiveness of the project which is ongoing. Tailored to each student this project provides practical and specialised help towards employment.

SI Murray Bridge - Murray Mallee Wig Library PFR 41869

This project was initiated after members heard about the benefits to women who were suffering from cancer or other health issues and whose confidence and self-esteem had suffered through the loss of their hair.

Their Project “Murray Mallee Wig Library” was initiated after members heard about the benefits to women who were suffering from cancer or other health issues and whose confidence and self-esteem had suffered through the loss of their hair. Discussions with health practitioners verified that there was a local need and the Soroptimist club undertook its establishment. A suitable premise with discreet entry was sourced and equipped. Funds were obtained through a grant application and commercial and private sources provided stock in a variety of styles and colours. Club members organised record keeping, finances and staff the centre. The library was very quickly utilised and services a wide area for women in need

SI Lautoka - Vuda Water Project 41755

The village school with more than 350 enrolments was often without water during the dry season and this had significant health implications for hygiene and sanitation

TheВ  project,В Vuda Water ProjectВ was one which reflected solid partnerships between the club, local business, private benefactors and the village school itself. The village school with more than 350 enrolments was often without water during the dry season and this had significant health implications for hygiene and sanitation so often it had to be closed. The club, which has undertaken a number of water projects, was approached by the school. The club investigated the need, calculated the tank size required, approached a local business for a quote and was given free transportation and sourced another private donation. The school undertook to provide piping for a number of purposes. Members maintained constant contact with all parties until the system was installed and then visited the project.

Each year, Soroptimist Clubs and Regions are invited to nominate a project for the Best Practice Award. В The projects need to demonstrate their excellence in planning, administering and evaluating a project to transform lives for women and girls around the Federation, В This is a prestigious award, showcasing projects which have achieved results.

Best Practice Awards for 2018, included in these awards are two special biennium awards, announced by President Theresa Lyford at the beginning of her Biennium, these awards were created to as part of Theresa's vision for clubs to partnership with other clubs on projects.

These two special awards areВ Soroptimists: Be the Changemakers and The Overall Excellence Award.

SI Petaling Jaya -В SPOTВ PFR#T2

Soroptimist Puberty Organizing Toolkit (SPOT).В  The SPOT project fulfills the gaps in Malaysia's sexual health and education for young people, especially young girls on the cusp of poverty.В  Malaysia data from 2012 states that there are more than 18,600 cases of underage pregancis per year and 50.4% of respondents admitted to having sex before the age of 14, this has also resulted in an increase in baby dumping and unsafe abortions.В  SI Petaling Jaya deveopmed the SPOT PuberTeen Talk and SPOT Workshops.В  SPOT is now recoginised by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, supported by the Ministry of Health and the National Population and Family Develoment Board (LPPKN) as well as the Ministry of Women,В  Family and Community Development of Malayia.В В 

The project endeavours to answer the question:В What do I wish I knew back then? By providing modules in a correct and age appropriate manner, through workshops, videos, social media and diaries it seeks to fill the gap between what children should know and their actual knowledge

SI Brisbane -В Answer the Call PFR#42365

This project is based on advocacy and awareness and began as project to ensure that the need for a new Women's Legal Service Helpline that would enable Women's Legal Service Queensland to give a more extensive telephone advice helpline service, particularly to migrant women and women in rural areas. This would enable them to give free legal advice and counselling to more of the 16,000 women whose calls for assistance were currently unmet.В В 

A fund-raising breakfast grew into an extensive advocacy project that involved community awareness and help, submissions on laws before federal and state parliaments and continued partnerships to assist women experiencing violence.The need for greater awareness of the serious consequences for the community of Violence against Women, and highlight the strong support that these women need.

SI Damansara - Life Skills4 Youth PFR#42110

This project aimed to bridge the gap between disadvantaged young women and their more advantaged peers.В  This was achieved by providing them with soft skills to improve their work readiness, work based learning opportunities and mentoring girls into technical opportunities,

Since the commencement of the program in 2013, 1000 underprivileged and at-risk youths across 5 vocational centers have received:
Work Ready Now (WRN) provides training in basic employability skills, knowledge and work ethics needed to prepare youth to successfully transition into the workforce
Work-based learning opportunities that expose students to real-life professional environments where they can apply their skills.

Ths project has placed more than 70% of trainees in full-time jobs within 3 months of graduation

SI Lautoka -В Food Security PFR# T12

Whilst brainstorming a Saturday of Service Project, members identified that the Jasper Girl's Hostel would benefit from a more indepth project, with further research the Food Security Project was launched. The Jasper Girls Hostel housed 150 girls from all over Fiji and some of the Regional Countries of the Pacifc.В  SI Lautoka identified that the bulk of the funding from the Methodist Church of Fiji and the Ministry of Education is just for food. The club further identified that Cassava (a root crop) is a major staple food and is used is most of the 3 meals provided to the girls at the hostel.В  The supply of Cassava was costing around $300(Fiji) per month.В  The Food Security project, set about establishing a garden at the Hostel to grow Cassava plants which when grown would supplement the supply of Cassava required by the hostel, money saved in supplying Cassava would be channeled towards other essentials for the students. The project is sustainable and ongoing, the club receives updates from the Hostel handyman on the condition of the garden as well as maintaining weekly checks by members on the gardens condition. Due to the success of this project the grounds keeper has shown interest in further Cassava plantings and establishing new vegetable planting.В 

SI Gold Coast -В Mother's Journey PFR #42224

This project, in conjunction with the NGO University of the Nations in Cambodia, as part of it's Women at Risk Program.В  The Women at Risk Program provides pre natal or post partum care to at risk mothers.В  The club sought to ensure effective free medical care, midwifery care and counselling to women in poverty or trauma.В  The club was able to identiy how much it would cost to provide one year of free midwifery, medical care, counselling and other needs as required.В  Contact with the Midwife from the Women at Risk Program identified a mother Sryeda who was expecting twins and required emergency intervention. The clubs provided funds to support Sryeda, involving blood transfusion surgery for twin pregnancy which saved her life and one surviving twin and continued into appropriate post partum care.

A club member travelled to the visit the Women at Risk Programm and was able to visit and monitor needs while formal communication was established.В  Regular updates from the midwife provide progress updates on both the mother and surviving twin.В 

A United Project by SI Damanasara, SI Singapore, SI Phnom Penh, SI Melba - Cycle for Cycles

This project, a joint effort between Damansara, Melba, Singapore and Phnom Penh, acted through fundraising to provide cycles to facilitate the work of Village Malaria Workers who are the front line in the fight against the disease in Cambodia.

Their fundraising and purchase and oversight by the Cambodian club provide success that has led to a request for expansion of the project.

SI Petaling Jaya - SPOT Community Program

This project seeks to offset the tremendous gaps in Malaysia's sexual health and education for young people, especially girls on the cusp of puberty.

It endeavours to answer the question: What do I wish I knew back then? By providing modules in a correct and age appropriate manner, through workshops, videos, social media and diaries it seeks to fill the gap between what children should know and their actual knowledge.

Each year, Soroptimist Clubs and Regions are invited to nominate a project for the Best Practice Award. В The projects need to demonstrate their excellence in planning, administering and evaluating a project to transform lives for women and girls around the Federation, В This is a prestigious award, showcasing projects which have achieved results.

This is the 2019 Best Practice Award winners.

SI Griffith - Elder Abuse Forum

Elder abuse is a growing problem across Australia as our population ages. It has remained largely hidden and most often occurs within families. While most reported cases are of a financial nature, the abuse can also be psychological, emotional, physical and sexual.

This project's aim was to build community awareness surrounding the issue of Elder Abuse and provide tools on identifying and reporting any cases and educating people on how to take action. This was achieved by SI Griffith holding a Public Community Forum with guest speaker President of the Commission for Ageing, Professor Rosalind Croucher AM.

SI Griffith worked closely with Griffith Aged Support Service, Griffith City Council and Griffith Exservicemen's Club to plan and execute the Community Forum. Media released were circulated to local media along with Facebook Advertising and flyers advertising the event.В The audience for the Forum was 120 participants.

SI Torrens -В Changing Attitudes

This project was formed from SI Torrens partnering with Women's Legal Services South Australia and recognising that programmes which can offer assistance to victims of domestic violence, need to be promoted and offered to women working to support these victims.
An event was organised which brought together diverse service providers who could outline their services, provide a means of exchanging information and helping educate front-line workers with information to assist their clients with.

There were 12 service groups who spoke at the event and over 40 more attended and were involved during time allocated for discussion. Over 110 people attended the event.

SI Griffith -В Exploitation of Overseas Workers

This project began through SI Griffith Soroptimist links with SI Mandurah (WA) and SI Moreton North (QLD) with these areas having high numbers of backpackers and other overseas workers and a need to help with advocacy specifically in relation to women backpackers and their safety.
During this advocacy work it was identified through data provided by the Australian Federal Police that there were large numbers of overseas workers to the Griffith area that were being exploited.

SI Griffith aim was to not only host a Community Forum to build awareness of this issue but also undertake further work on this issue, either locally or through advocacy at state and national levels.

SI Griffith created flyers and Facebook posts; media releases were written and sent to local radio stations and newspapers. 70 people attended the forum and further work with the local Salvation Army personnel enabled SI Griffith to organise assistance to overseas workers in the local area who needed help by providing basic food items and assistance in distributing “help” cards to overseas workers.

Si Bangsar -В Health Camp

This project began with a partnership between SI Bangsar, the Regency Hospital and Dr Maria Fernandez of SI Johor Bahru and the recognition of local underprivileged communities that would benefit from access to medical services and education.
Three communities were identified as a focus. These communities included low income families living in low cost housing areas, where incomes are small and women within the communities are lacking in education and skills.

A health camp was organised to provide education on healthy lifestyles, family planning, nutrition and making better future decisions with the help from medical staff from the Regency Hospital and final year Medical Students from Newcastle University.
100 residents from one of the identified communities participated in the programme and were offered blood and body mass index tests, a medical examination, nutrition advice, health and hygiene advice and family planning advice and discussions.

The project also opened the doors for future projects including follow up health checks and a literacy programme as the local women expressed interest in learning English and were keen to bring their children along.

SI Mackay - Bags for Change

This project aim was to bring together predominately women and girls to educate about the replacing of single-use plastic with environmentally sustainable bags within the local community.

Community service empowers people through expanding social networks. This no-cost project provided an inclusive environment for women and girls to meet and contribute together. Giving these women a sense of belonging to a supportive community along with a sense of achievement.
At least 100 women were involved in the production of these bags from recycled materials and the bags given to St Vinnies who regularly hand out food hampers to disadvantages low income families to use and re-