An Ocean Grove pet support organisation has brought home a trophy for its business and pet industry work.
Cherished Pets won the Social Enterprise Business award in the 2023 Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards’ Pet Industry category on Saturday, September 23.
Founder and veterinarian Dr Alicia Kennedy said it was “really exciting” and a “real honour” to win the award.
“I felt quite chuffed that we’ve been recognised at that level for the work that Cherished Pets does as a social enterprise,” she said.
“To win was exciting, and I felt very validated and endorsed for what we do in Ocean Grove and the Geelong community because sometimes, in the social enterprise space, you can feel quite isolated.”
Dr Kennedy said the award helped endorse her organisation’s work, which looks after the human and animal bond by providing people with accessible and affordable veterinary care.
“What we’re doing is very innovative and gaining attention,” she said.
“This award further validates and supports our work which helps us build our business case and our advocacy to try to bring what we do at Cherish Pets to other regions.”
Dr Kennedy said she also received a National Veterinary Business Thought Leadership award in September and felt validated to win the award.
“What we’re trying to achieve at Cherished Pets is really supported by being recognised as a Thought Leader in the veterinary business community,” she said.
“Our organisation model is quite unique because we’re trying to bring solutions to some very complex problems in our community.”
The Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Awards is a program that highlights the work and success of female-led small businesses from around the country.
