More than 300 community leaders, finalists and advocates gathered at Melbourne’s Olympic Park on Tuesday 3 September, to celebrate excellence in the child and family services sector across 14 award categories.
Karen Hogan, manager of the Royal Children’s Hospital Gatehouse Centre, received the most prestigious award of the night, the Robin Clark Leadership Award.
Under Karen’s leadership, the Gatehouse Centre has grown to be a service of significant stature and authority in the treatment of sexual assault and trauma suffered by children and young people.
The Robin Clark Making a Difference Award was presented to the Family Drug Treatment Court for their ground-breaking, collaborative, and solutions-focused approach to parent-child reunification.
These awards honour the memory of Robin Clark, a respected and inspirational leader in child, youth and family welfare.
Other award winners include:
- Minister’s Award for Innovation in Protecting Children – Joint winners – Nugel, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency and CaringLife, Nautilus Media Group
- CREATE Award – Peter O’Toole, foster carer
- Commission for Children and Young People; Modelling a Generous Community Award – Russell Mulry, CREATE Foundation
- Commission for Children and Young People; Walda Blow Award – Hazel Hudson, Njernda
- Carer Award – Nicole and Ross Mackay, OzChild Home Based Care Program
- Education Initiative Award – Kerri Bolch, Berwick College.
The awards provide an opportunity to acknowledge Victorians from across all areas of family services and child protection, along with innovative educational programs, and contributions to policy and practice.
