Biggest congratulations to both Inala Community House Community Engagement Coordinator Anushka Abeyewardene and Manager Haley Kiata!
On Thursday 25th May 2017, Inala Community House was invited to attend the 2017 Child Friendly Excellence Awards Ceremony – organised by Mission Australia (Communities for Children (Inala to Ipswich) and Circles of Care).
The Awards Ceremony was part of the Parent and Child Expo – held from 9.30am-1pm at Richlands East State School Hall (99 Poinsettia St, Inala QLD 4077).
The Parent and Child Expo was a free public event – especially for families with children aged 0-12. The Expo featured a great variety of service information stalls, interactive displays and activities. Every atteendee also received a free goodie bag containing useful information about local community services and businesses.
Family-friendly entertainment included face-painting, arts and crafts, jumping castle, baby animals, music, children concert, photobooth and more.
Free sausage sizzle was available throughout the event, as well as a lucky draw competition for family-friendly prizes.
Feeling starstruck: a photo opportunity with actor Jay Laga’aia (famous for Australian children’s TV show Playschool) and Forest Lake Ward Councillor Charles Strunk.
2017 Child Friendly Excellence Awards Ceremony: an opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge individuals, services, groups and businesses for providing outstanding service to families in the Inala to Ipswich region.
Both Inala Community House Community Engagement Manager Haley Kiata and Coordinator Anushka Abeyewardene were present to receive their individual awards of nomination.
Quoted reasons behind their nomination:
“Haley Kiata is constantly working outside of work hours to help individuals and families in need. She truly loves the Inala community and is constantly planning and attending events to better our community. She is a lovely, empathetic and understanding woman who always puts others’ needs before her own. She is involved in a great variety of community support services resolving issues like domestic violence, homelessness, community settlement, elderly inclusion support and more.”
“Anushka Abeyewardene has always gone above and beyond her role as a Community Engagement Coordinator, especially in running our successful Tuesday Homework Club by herself. Our Tuesday Homework Club has helped to achieve academic success for students especially from refugee families whose English is not their first language while facing various other settlement challenges.”
Biggest congratulations again to both Haley and Anushka who had been acknowledged for their positive contribution to our organisation, clients and community as a whole. Both our staff also expressed their gratitude and humility by the awards, as we endeavour to continue our best in serving the community.
We welcome you to join Inala Community House’s various free and fun programs to serve all members of our local community. For more information, contact us: www.ich.org.au | info@ich.org.au | (07) 3372 1711.