Jessica Brown as The Finalist of the Award is recognized for her vision and outstanding achievements to break the cycle of abuse and suffering in Australian teenage girls by giving them a positive role model and having them attend a twelve month personal success program called the SISTER 2 sister Project. She founded a charity called of Life Changing Experiences Foundation with the purpose of funding and implementing this program. Since its inception in 2003, the Foundation has changed the lives of almost one hundred at risk teenage girls and their communities.  The Project aims ultimately to encourage leadership and capacity for mentoring in the young women who are at risk and hence become involved in the Project. The encouragement of the young women to continue at school rather than dropping out is essential for enabling the young women to develop and grow positively. Jessica has an extensive waiting list of volunteers wishing to be big sister. This Project shows great initiative on the part of Jessica Brown, along with a capacity for leadership and persuasiveness in her ability to gain funding for the Project and support from government. The involvement of a large number of volunteers shows a high level of ability for leadership.  

My vision was to break the cycle of abuse and suffering in Australian teenage girls  by giving them a role model and having them attend a twelve month personal success program called The Sister 2 Sister Project. With the support of the wider community, I founded a charity called Life Changing Experiences Foundation with the purpose of funding and implementing this program.  Since its inception, Life Changing Experiences Foundation has changed the lives of almost one hundred at risk teenage girls and their communities and by 2011 the program will reach over ten times this amount across four Australian states. Witnessing the girls achieve goals and seeing their mindset shift from "I can't" to "I can" is priceless - the best achievement we could ask for."

As The  Finalist   of  the  Leadership  Achievement  Award  Jessica Brown receives:  a  CLW  Leadership  Achievement  Award  Certificate,  a  complimentary  CLW  Membership  for  2  years;  and  a  prize  of  A$500.   

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Short-listed Applicants for the 2007 Award are: 

Indu Balachandran developed for Youth Challenge Australia, a Program that provides exchange and development opportunities for young people in Australia and India.  

Indu Balachandran wanted "to establish concrete links between Australia an India has been on the forefront of my mind for a number of years. I have sought to do this through personal advocacy, my interest in Indian classical music, and more recently my professional involvement in community development. It is my privilege to contribute to a joint volunteer program that bridges tow countries and provides opportunities for young people to engage in meanigful exchange and development." (Indu Balachandran)

Liz Everard for the Body Esteem Project in Western Australia for women affected by eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia Nervosa and body image problems.  

Liz Everard immigrated to Australia from the Netherlands in 2001. "It was my vision to start self help groups for women suffering from an eating disorder. I myself had suffered from an eating disorder and had benefited greatly from a self help group in the Netherlands.  I wanted to implement the same model in Perth so that other women could experience the benefits of sharing with other women who had gone through a similar experience." (Liz Everard)

Gainore Atkins for developing the Hobsons Bay Women’s Referral Service in Victoria for women experiencing domestic violence or other abuse situations.  

Gainore Atkins identified an urgent need for a local referral service which would primarily offer support and referral to women and families suffering from domestic abuse (either physical or verbal) in a rapidly growing area of the Hobsons Bay Municipality. Ms Atkins promoted her vision through a range of key networks that she developed within the local community over a period of time and through advertising in the local newspapers inviting people from the community to be a part of her vision.  From this  committee of management was founded which included women looking to assist those women and children in domestic violence situations in the local community.  The service has been fully operational since 2006.

Celia Bray for the Festival of Dreams Project in Tasmania for helping young people realize their potential and move beyond obstacles posed by lack of jobs, lack of support and services.  

Celia Bray wanted to transform the perception in the community of Tasmania as a place of little opportunity where many young people feel the need to leave. She wanted to empower young people to believe in their own vision and ability to make things happen in their communities and their lives. By traveling around Tasmania consulting with youth workers and young people to find out what they thought about the project idea and what they wanted, her vision developed into a shared vision.  The initial Project was a 2 day state wide youth forum and subsequent mentoring program. Since the initial Project 3 other forums have been run, a youth leadership program was developed, and a partnership is being explored with a youth peace organisation in Canada. The project is now an annual event and is considered a valuable asset in the youth sector by the Minister for Education, Office of Youth Affairs, local government  and community members. 3 young people have won youth awards including the 2006 Young Tasmanian of the year Award for their leadership skills and contribution to their communities from their participation in the Project and the opportunities they have created in their lives since the project

Applications were judged by Diann Rodgers-Healey, Founder of CLW and a Panel of independent judges including Avril Henry, Director of AH Revelations; Dr Jocelynne Scutt, Barrister & Human Rights Lawyer & Executive Producer, Former Anti-Discrimination Commissioner of Tasmania; Dr Shirley Randell AM United Nations Project Implementation Specialist for the Capacity Building for Gender Mainstreaming Project in Bangladesh; Dr Lynette Dumble, Founder and Director of Global Sisterhood Network; Carmelita Steinke, Director 2VoxFM, Radio & Media Specialist; Cheryl O'Connor, CEO, Australian College of Educators.