Victorian councils and community groups have been honoured for their contributions to achieving reconciliation with the Indigenous community.

Peak bodies for reconciliation and local government welcomed the tireless efforts community groups and councils at the 2nd Community Helping Achieve Reconciliation Together (HART) Awards in Melbourne.

President of the Victorian Local Governance Association (VLGA), Cr Sebastian Klein said the awards had again attracted a strong field of entrants, which was testament to the way local communities are working to achieve reconciliation.

“Today was a celebration of passionate and dedicated individuals who have come together in partnership to bring about mutual understanding and respect between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people,” he said.

“This year a number of councils had chosen to nominate community groups in their municipality, many of which are volunteer based and run on minimal funding.

“It is heartening to see councils actively recognising the enormous effort these groups put in and also congratulating them on the significant results achieved.

Acting State-wide Coordinator of Reconciliation Victoria, Deb Chapman, said the diversity of entrants shows that there is a myriad of ways that communities can work toward reconciliation.

“It was clear through the variety of entrants that communities and councils carefully tailor programs that will work and have impact at the local level,” she said.

“There’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to reconciliation and it is not something which can be achieved through tokenistic events or policies.

“The 2015 entrants showed how true reconciliation can only come from having two-way conversations in order to develop mutual respect and understanding,” said Ms Chapman.

The 2015 Community HART Awards winners are Shearwater Festival Working Group for the annual Shearwater Festival on Phillip Island (community category, nominated by Bass Coast Shire Council) and Yarra City Council for the Smith Street Dreaming project (local government category).

Highly commended were Geelong’s Deadly Dancers and Corrina O’Toole; Uncle Boydie’s Dream Team, Darebin City Council and the Western Regional Local Government Reconciliation Network – comprised of Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Melton, Moonee Valley and Wyndham City).