Volunteers from the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Lived Experience Network (pictured) have won the State’s inaugural Child Protection Volunteer of the World Award.
Announced with great pride by the Department, the volunteer group members contribute their diverse experiences as parents and carers to inform and shape key reforms to support families and prevent children entering care.
The Department congratulated all the network members who included Shelly Coad, Mirja Severe, Mona Shirzadkhan, Wei Gao, Chloe Cameron, Jasmine Brouwers, Lemy Neisha, Elisha Hoffmann, Luke Buttigieg, Stacey Ugur, Jamie Schmidt, Sara Weeding, Kirsten Abel, Belinda Valentine and Steve Harvey.
It said the Awards, which were organised by the Department for Child Protection (DCP) in partnership with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN), celebrated the achievements of DCP partners who provide vital support to vulnerable children and young people and inspire others to support children and young people in care.
The Department said the Awards were presented at the SA Child Protection Awards Breakfast last Wednesday (8 September) during National Child Protection Week which was finalised n Saturday.
It said the successful Lived Experience Network was not DHS’s only winner with Executive Director of Community and Family Services, Ann-Marie Hayes recognised for her partnership and collaboration transforming early help and support services for families to prevent children from coming into care.
The Department said Ms Hayes was the inaugural winner of the ‘Supporting families to stay together Award’.
Minister for Child Protection, Rachel Sanderson praised the outstanding efforts of all Award winners, finalists and nominees, as almost 200 nominations had been received.
The full list of Award winners can be accessed at this PS News link.