Youth and Young Adults

The 2021 Australasian Catholic Press Association (ACPA) Awards were held via ZOOM after the annual ACPA Conference was cancelled for the second year due to COVID-19 state lockdowns. The awards are an opportunity for Catholic media to celebrate the outstanding contribution organisations make to the Church in Australia.

ACPA President Neil Helmore said, “Catholic media in Australia continues to strive to lift up the Church and celebrate the diversity and mission through dedicated and talented journalists, photographers and designers that make up the Catholic Press.”

Over the past couple of years, and particularly since the COVID outbreak, the Diocese of Wollongong’s communication team and the Office of Renewal and Evangelisation have been focusing their attention in the areas of digital and multimedia communications, and these efforts were rewarded at the ACPA Awards where the diocese took out two major awards and was runner-up in a third category:

WINNER: Best Content – Catechesis & Mission

Catholic Youth Ministry Wollongong – “LIVE Online” Series

Judges’ comments: A professionally produced, well-written series that is most importantly Christ centred and focused on the Gospel. The importance of digital media in the Church’s catechesis and mission can’t be underestimated, especially amid a pandemic that is hampering our ability to gather in person. This entry bridges that gap superbly. Congratulations to Seth Harsh, the CYMW team, ORE, and the diocese’s NET Ministries Team! 

cymw live online

WINNER: Best Layout & Design – Website

Diocese of Wollongong – dow.org.au

Judges’ comments: The website is immediately attractive and engaging to the user.  The layout of the home page is particularly impressive as it enables the user to easily scroll through an array of material and resources presented with appealing images and typography.  Essential diocesan information is easily accessible via the central navigation menu at the top of each page.

Congratulations to the diocese’s communications team, web partner Digerati Solutions who assisted with the design and build of the website, and the many people in the Office of the Bishop for their contribution to the creation of the diocesan website.

RUNNER-UP: Best News Content – Multiple Content Producers

Diocese of Wollongong – Celebration of the Feast of St Mary of the Cross

Congratulations go to the Sisters of St Joseph led by Sr Kerry Gardiner RSJ and Sr Monica Barlow RSJ who participated in the video as well our own Bishop Brian and the communications team who put it together. A special congratulations to Peter Gilmore from ORE who expertly edited the video! 

watch video

The Diocese of Broken Bay’s quarterly, Broken Bay News, took out the top gong at the awards – The Bishop Philip Kennedy Memorial Trophy – which is awarded to the publication that wins either one of two awards: Best Print Publication or Best Online Publication.