Darwin and Tennant Creek Foster and Kinship Carer Excellence Award Winners Announced

Territory Families

The Darwin andTennant Creek region winners of the Foster and Kinship Carer Excellence Awards have been announced.

The Foster andKinship Carer Excellence Awards recognise and celebrate the dedication,commitment and achievements of foster and kinship carers, their families, staffand young people that have experienced out-of-home care and the enormouscontribution they make to the lives of vulnerable children in every communityacross the Northern Territory.

This yearstheme focuses on the Rock Star efforts made by fosters carers, kinshipcarers, social workers and cases mangers to support children and young peoplein need.

TerritoryFamilies Chief Executive Officer Ken Davies said the awards provided theopportunity to celebrate the achievements of our valuable carers and the communityof people who support children in out-of-home care, as well as having an eventfor the young people, which is fun, engaging, inspiring and motivational.

Theseawards are for the carers of children thriving in the care of a loving family,the siblings who go the extra mile to make them feel welcome in their home andthe support staff who believe that going above and beyond is a part of theirjob, he said.

This year we received more than 100 nominations fromacross the Territory highlighting the important role of foster and kinshipcarers, staff and young people to support children in care to feel safe, secureand supported.

TheAward winners in Darwin are:

Outstanding Contribution by a FosterCarer Nicola and Wayne Riley, Michael Mouzourakis

Outstanding Contribution by aKinship Carer Neil Stephenson

Outstanding Commitment by a Territory Families Staff Member- TaniaEdmonds

Outstanding Contribution by a Sibling – Name withheld for privacy

Young Person Achievement Award – Name withheldfor privacy.

The Award winners in Tennant Creek are:

Outstanding Contribution by a Foster – AngelaTeasdale

Outstanding Contribution by a Kinship Carer – Alison Ross andJackie Vincent

Outstanding Commitment by a Territory Families Staff Member- Cyndia Henty-Roberts.

I would liketo congratulate all the winners and award recipients for their outstandingachievement and thank them for their dedication and commitment to supportchildren and young people in care and for the work they do in strengthening ourcommunities, Mr Davies said.

Regional events are being held in Nhulunbuy on 21September, Tennant Creek and Darwin on 24 September and Katherine and AliceSprings on 25 September and Wadeye on 1 October 2019.

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