Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3) 51 3 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Safe Work Awards SAFE WORK AWARDS The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO Legislative Council SAFE WORK AWARDS The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (15:05): My question is to the Minister for Small Business. Will he advise the council how the small business sector is involved in the annual Safe Work Awards? The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY Legislative Council Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business SAFE WORK AWARDS The Hon. P. HOLLOWAY (Minister for Mineral Resources Development, Minister for Urban Development and Planning, Minister for Small Business) (15:06): The Safe Work Awards were established to not only recognise but also celebrate individuals and organisations in South Australia who have made a significant contribution towards achieving excellence in occupational health and safety in the workplace. The 2009 Safe Work Awards were held on Friday 13 October. With the record number of entries received, it is clear that the safety and wellbeing of employees and customers is becoming a growing priority. The full list of Safe Work award categories for 2009 includes: Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System (in the public and private sectors); Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue; Best Workplace Health and Safety Practices in Small Business; Best Individual Contribution to Workplace Health and Safety; Employer of the Year (in the public and private sectors); Best Public Event Safety; and the Augusta Zadow scholarships. In addition to small businesses being recognised with the best workplace health and safety practices in the small business category, businesses with fewer than 20 employees or full-time equivalent staff are also eligible to nominate for: Best Workplace Health and Safety Management System; Best Solution to an Identified Workplace Health and Safety Issue; Best Public Event Safety; and Employer of the Year. Small businesses are not only encouraged to nominate for awards but also assisted through the Small Business Student Assistance Scheme, which was set up in partnership with TAFE SA, Panorama campus. The scheme provides invaluable assistance by matching small businesses that are applying for a Safe Work award with student volunteers who are undertaking a diploma or an advanced diploma in occupational health and safety. The student volunteers are on hand to assist small businesses in developing and drafting their applications. I am extremely happy to report that the Employer of the Year Public Sector Award was presented to Adelaide Shores, a statutory authority I have responsibility for as Minister for Urban Development and Planning. Adelaide Shores, located at West Beach and managed by the West Beach Trust, comprises a range of accommodation and leisure facilities spread across a 135 hectare reserve. The precinct offers a range of state significant facilities, as follows: two accommodation properties, which are both South Australian Tourism Award winners, that is, the Adelaide Shores Caravan Park, which provides caravan and camping sites and cabins (and this park's family friendly facilities have earned it a 4.5 five-star rating); and the Adelaide Shores Resort, which offers deluxe self-contained accommodation in a prime beachfront location and provides hotel standard services and facilities with extra space and privacy; Adelaide Shores Golf, which has two 18-hole public courses, a golf academy, practice facilities and a driving range, which are all complemented by the Westward Ho Golf Club; the boat haven at West Beach, a venue for boat launching, fishing and other marine services; access to Coast Park, which is a state government initiative, in partnership with local government, to develop a 70 kilometre linear park along the metropolitan Adelaide coastline. Adelaide Shores is responsible for the maintenance of a one kilometre stretch of the Coast Park that allows pedestrians and cyclists to connect with Glenelg and Henley Beach; and the Shores Function Complex. Through both the staff and customers who use the various facilities, Adelaide Shores has built a culture of awareness around the need to maintain and improve safety. The statewide recognition of good work practices through the Safe Work Awards is just one way in which we are striving to meet the South Australian Strategic Plan target of reducing the incidence of workplace harm by 40 per cent during the 10 years to 2012. I congratulate Adelaide Shores and all the winners of this year's awards for all their performance in maintaining and improving the levels of workplace health safety across South Australia.