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

These are the winners for 2023 for projects undertaken and delivered during 2022.

WINNER - SI Griffith : Moorambilla Magic Evening and Workshop 
Report ID: 20221130011019

SI Griffith invited Moorambilla Voices, a children and  Youth Choir that provides tuition and performance opportunities to young people in rural and remote communities in North Western New South Wales, to come into Griffith and conduct two workshops The attendees were encouraged to ‘think big, dream wildly and connect with Country’ through the power of movement and music. One of the project goals was to provide an opportunity for the students in this regional area to be able to access high quality creative arts education and performance opportunities. There was to be a special emphasis on Indigenous students. This project was also seen as a first step to address some of the negative effects from social isolation and anxiety following COVID lockdowns.

Highly Commended: SI Bangsar - SICB Teenage Survival Kit
ID 202211106095344, 20221107091114, 20221018034414

The Teenage Survival Kit  program aimed  to create awareness and provide knowledge to teenagers  through 4 modules - Teen Sexuality: Teen Health; Teen Safety and Teen Empowerment. The program takes a holistic approach not only to providing the information to teenagers but also to parents, grandparents, caregivers, guardians, teachers and counsellors.  The programme was developed by a group of Soroptimists who were also doctors, lawyers, counsellors, trainers and lecturers and parents of teenage children. This was then enhanced and refined by experts in a number of associated fields.

HIGHLY COMMENDED - SI Brisbane Water: The Aspire Project 
Report ID: 20221114103106
The Aspire program aimed to lift the self- esteem and aspirations of teenage girls, especially those from dysfunctional families and or experiencing relationship difficulties and those girls who maybe disengaged from learning. It focused on areas of mindfulness, confidence building, positive body image, building positive relationships, goal setting and career path planning 

The program was developed as part of a coursework project by third year university students, reviewed by 2 private welfare counsellors and piloted in a school setting. Subsequently through a number of avenues the programme was made available to Central Coast schools.

Image: Brisbane Waters members presenting a cheque to Brisbane Water Secondary College, the seventh school this year to receive funding from SI Brisbane Water to run The Aspire Program when we presented a cheque to Student Support Officer, Alisha

WINNER - SI Brisbane Water - Older Women's Housing
Report ID: 20221201083606

Women over 55 were identified to be the largest growing population of homeless people in NSW. SI Brisbane Water worked in partnership with Zonta Central Coast and Elderslee Foundation and homelessness service providers, Women’s Community Shelters and Pacific Link to provide interim housing for up to 3 years for 14 older homeless women.

The project was well researched, and addressed a real and immediate need in the community. Soroptimist members were involved in fitting out the units with linen, microwaves and gifts as well as fund-raising and purchasing equipment.

WINNER: SI Penang - Period Poverty and Sustainability  
Report ID: 20221013105840

This project addressed the problem of girls missing school each month when they had their period, as they could not afford disposable pads.  A workshop on the usage of Reusable Pads was introduced to first year Secondary Girls  from low income families in a local school.  The workshop also touched on topics such as puberty, personal care and environmental sustainability.  Money was raised to buy the girls the re-useable pads, the workshop held, and 70 girls were helped.

WINNER: SI Brisbane Water - Reducing Our Carbon Footprint
ID 20211215085412

Members were challenged to commit to reducing their carbon footprint in their daily habits. Members shared ways to reduce, repair, reuse and recycle. Speakers were sourced on various topics such as composting, eco friendly cleaning, club members introduced meatless Mondays to their families and the CO2 emission reduction was monitored with over 212 kg reduction for the Month. Recycling of items increased. Awareness and knowledge increased. Members shared their knowledge and experiences with each other. A bonus outcome has been the influence on family and friends as a result of the action taken by our members during the project. We will continue to impart any more ideas and innovations as they come to our notice with club members. Our club passed a motion that "SI Brisbane Water members commit to using eco-friendly utensils and decorations where possible when holding a function"

HIGHLY COMMENDED:  SI Queensland South - Project Lead SI Bayside - Recycling- Advocacy, Awareness, Action
ID 20211231094459

Reducing our Carbon Footprint Project was devised as a response to Climate Change. It was designed to educate all of our members, their families and friends in a project that would encourage all members to reduce their carbon footprint both in the home and at their workplace by engaging in incremental change in their lifestyle and daily habits. Research was done and goals set for 12-month project. The project concentrated on FOOD, TRANSPORT, ENERGY and RECYCLING, identifying realistically attainable goals. We provided a list of 59 suggestions and 30 were actioned by one or more of our members. Members recorded their changes and we measured/evaluated our success. e.g. In one month the members saved 212kg of CO2 emissions by introducing at least one vegetarian meal per week. In addition, we planted 300 trees in our local area. We engaged the members by using videos, guest speakers, and member presentations on their research and action.

WINNER:  SI Nelson- Project Blooming Great Fundraiser
ID 202212280447

This humanitarian relief project undertaken by SI Nelson.  Soroptimist International Krakow was supporting the Ukraine humanitarian relief work.  To raise funds to send to SI Krakow, the club undertook a project to riase funds.  The project was to package, label and sell 1000 tubers of Coral Sunset Poeny. These were sold over a number of week at $20.00 a tuber (bulb), $20,000 NZD was donated to SI Krakow so they could continue to provide practical programmes to assist Ukraine refugees in Poland. 

WINNER:  SI Bangsar - Post Flood Relief Project
ID 20221129023546

SI Bangsar project was to carry out post relief work after the disasterous floods of December 2021.

Phase 1 was to source and work with partner for the storage and distribution of household goods which could be distributed directly to the target communities.

Phase 2 was in collaboration with The Orang Asli (Native) Community Development and the Catholic Church to assist 9 native families rebuild their badly damaged homes.

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Region of Malaysia - Flood Risk Reduction in Rural Communities
ID 20221230090948

The clubs in the Region of Malaysia choose to focus on ways to assist flooded communities post December 2021, the floods impacted more than 125,000 people. SIROM conducted a workshop on Flood risk reduction and Mitigation for the villagers of Long Tanyit. The main objective was to educate and empower rural women to become more resilient in the face of disasters and improve food security. Four clubs collaborated in delivering the workshop: SI Damansara, Bangsar, Shah Alam and Kota Kinabalu. They partnered with Heineken Malaysia and its CSR arm SPARK, the Malaysian Water Partnership, Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) of Malaysia and the frangipani Organic Farm. Engineers from DID provided expert advice and training on Flood Risk Reduction and Mitigation and what to do before during and after floods. After the Workshop the women felt they were better equipped to handle further disasters. Funds from Heineken rebuilt greenhouses on higher ground, repaired tanks and irrigation, reinforced the dam, built a culvert with work undertaken by the villagers. The villagers also introduced more hardy plants to their farms, providing a pathway to adding to their income and improve health. The village project coordinator provides regular updates to the club.

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 2016 Best Practice Award winners.

SI Penang - Education FundВ 

This project, aimed at low income single women households, sought to provide women and girls with the opportunity to pursue higher education orВ to give them a skill to gain better access to employment. It involved fundraising, the establishment of a committee to select and interview people who met the criteria and ensured wide publicity about the scholarships. It ensured monitoring of the project and mentoring of students where required

SI Penang - Winds of Change PFR#42367

This project addressed the needs of a Women's Welfare Council that assisted unwed mothers, single mothers and underprivileged children.

SI Penang set up an Environment Project Team, which identified that the Women's Welfare Council building, built in The building built in 1980 had poor air ventilation resulting in hot and stagnant air of very poor quality, this issue could create on going health issue for its residents, especially babies and young children.В  The project team researched and installedВ installedВ 10 wind-powered turbine ventilators an energy efficient and effective system.В  this action has greatly improved the air ventilation.В 

SI Region of South QLD - Photo Voice Focus on Domestic Violence

This project, undertaken in partnership with Photo Voice Australia, Domestic Violence organisations and the state Women's Legal Services, sought to convey the feelings of being in a violent relationship and the difference when free of violence. Each week the women photographed an image to reflect the topic of weekly discussions with a psychologist and then were aided in writing a caption to link their experiences to the image. At the end of the workshops there was a collection of 36 images.В  Facilitated by the Region of South Queensland, the clubs of the region then used the collection for a travelling exhibition.В  The travelling exhibition demonstrated the impact of violence on all aspects of their life and feedback at each exhibition highlighted the emotional impact domestic violence has on whole communities.

SI South Perth - Collaboration for Capacity Building

SI South Perth in partnership with Family Foundation Service for homeless families and the Uniting Care Wesley. В The club co-designed a response to meet the needs of women and girls who were homeless through circumstances other than domestic violence.В 

A centre was used to cook meals, do homework and access services to end homelessness. The project had streams all of which were to support access to social and emotional learning. Much attention was given to providing resources to improve self-esteem, encourage emotional resilience and resources to develop behavioural and emotional competency. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation ensured that the process was adaptable to meet changing needs and that the project has continued successfully since its commencement and trial.

SI Bayside & SI Lae - Soroptimists Lighting the Way to Climate Justice

This joint project by SI Bayside and SI Lae, aimed to provide alternative energy devices to women and children in village communities lacking easy access to electricity and with very limited traditional means of access.

This section of the plan involved solar lantern distribution after an exhaustive research and distribution process a suitable solar lantern was identified for distribution to villages. Full acquittals and reports were provided to funding bodies. The second part of the project involved education on the environment and a personal ecological footprint. A web site to do this was established and provides information and the ability to donate to the project. Women and girls in remote Papua New Guinean villages were enabled to study, work at night and be safe while learning about climate issuesВ trial.

SI Lautoka - Assisting Victims Cyclone Winston

Immediately after Cyclone Winston had devastated large areas of Fiji. В SI Lautoka swung into action. В After investigating the area, they determined by personal surveys, where the greatest need was and what emergency supplies were needes .В 

Members of SI Lautoka consulted with advisory counsellors to identify families in distress, with support from SI members and local businesses they organised and distributed food parcels and lighting. They also undertook to get students back into school as soon as possible to reduce trauma and with support from a variety of donors, organised and distributed school packs and uniforms. The project constantly investigated needs, organised distribution, consulted experts and adjusted their work to meet unfolding needs. Feedback was positive and Soroptimist International gained valuable publicity and recognition for the valuable disaster relief provided.В 

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.