Enable Social Enterprises has taken out top honours at the Victorian Premier’s Sustainability Awards for helping disadvantaged jobseekers connect with their community and environment to gain employment.

Minister for Environment Lily D’Ambrosio presented the Premier’s Recognition Award to Enable at a ceremony in Melbourne last night for its work in creating employment pathways while diverting waste from landfill.

As a social enterprise, Enable is helping to break unemployment cycles through work and learning programs with a strong focus on environmental skills that lead to paid work opportunities.

Last year, their IT Recycling business created ten employment pathways while diverting more than 133,000 kgs of e-waste from landfill. Enable also took out an award in the innovative products and services category.

A family farm based in Warrnambool has won the Premier’s Regional Recognition Award in the small and medium enterprises category.

Kia Ora Merino has been acknowledged for their sustainable wool production through reducing chemical use, sowing permanent pastures and slowing or stopping runoff into rivers.

Not for profit group Renew has taken out the Community category by developing an Australian first best practice model for how the Hepburn Shire can reach a carbon neutral goal within 10 years.

The inaugural Environmental Volunteering category was won by Beyond Zero’s Electrifying Industry Volunteer Working Group for producing a world-first report that shows how to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing.

Celebrating its 17th year, the Premier’s Sustainability Awards is Victoria’s highest-profile sustainability awards program across business, government, health, education, volunteering and community

For a full list of this year’s winners visit sustainabilityawards.vic.gov.au

Quotes attributable to Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio

“Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and finalists – I’m confident you’ll inspire more Victorians to do their bit and become advocates for a cleaner, healthier environment.”

“It’s inspiring to see such passionate and inspirational people, dedicated to delivering social, economic and environmental benefits for Victoria.”