REDLAND City Council has won a national award for a program that teaches the elderly what to do in an emergency.
The Seniors Emergency Preparedness Project was highly commended in the local government category of the Australian Safer Communities Awards presented in Canberra in November.
The program, an initiative of the council's Community Development team, had already won the Queensland 2010 Safer Communities Award in the local government category.
Redland City Mayor Melva Hobson accepted the award from the Attorney-General's Department for the project, initiated in 2009.
Cr Hobson said the project had a small budget but a big impact on the seniors' community.
"It was an honour to be among the top-ranked local governments for our work on this important safety initiative," Cr Hobson said.
"Since it began, hundreds of residents and more than 27 organisations have taken part in a series of emergency preparedness workshops and forums for seniors, carers and aged care providers," Cr Hobson said.
Redlands Aged Care Providers Group chairman Wayne Gredig said the project would save lives and he thanked the council's community development officer, Jennifer Schoof, for making it a reality.
"Jennifer Schoof is a remarkable person who has worked tirelessly to make this project work," Mr Gredig said.
"The cooperative approach developed between the council and Redlands aged care providers and retirement villages means we can assist each other in a crisis situation," he said.
Redland City Council was one of four councils in Australia honoured at the presentation and the only winner from Queensland.
Yarra Ranges Council was the overall national winner of the local government category.
This was the 11th year of the Australian Safer Communities Awards which recognise excellence and innovation in emergency management.
