Celebrates an achievement of a child or young person (or group of children/young people) up to 25 years who has had a care experience.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Provides a comprehensive introduction to the child/young person (or group of children/young people).
• Describes the achievements of the child/young person (or group of children/young people).
• Provides insight into the impact or outcome of the outstanding achievement/s for self or others.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include a child or young person who:

• Inspires others through sharing their lived experience.
• Effects positive change through championing and advocating for other children and young people with a care experience.
• Displays an ability to push through adversity and grow through challenges while remaining ambitious.

Award Sponsor: Commissioner for Children and Young People

Recognises an individual or organisation who has demonstrated excellence in making active efforts to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

Active efforts include purposeful, thorough, and timely actions to uphold one or more of the elements of Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation and Connection.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Explains the role of the individual or organisation.
• Describes how the individual or organisation have made active efforts to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
• Describes the positive impact and reach of the nominee’s actions.
• Provides details of how the nominee has gone above and beyond what is expected to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or organisation who:

• Empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and cultural safety to achieve the best outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families or carers.
• Embeds the development and implementation of policy, programs or practice which honour connection to family, community, culture and Country.
• Advocates for the safety, welfare and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families.
• Provides culturally safe practice that embeds Aboriginal led decision making, supports connection to culture and promotes self-determination.
• Listens to Aboriginal voices and demonstrates respect for Aboriginal people’s knowledge of culture and community.
• Works alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to ensure Aboriginal  children and young people and their families get the right support at the right time.
• Engages in active and dedicated efforts to meeting obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Award Sponsor: Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People

Recognises an individual or organisation who has supported the voice of children and young people in care to be heard in decisions that impact them.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Introduces the individual or organisation, including the nominee’s role working with children and young people in care.
• Provides an example/s of the nominee’s contribution to supporting children and young people to be heard in decisions that impact them.
• Describes the impact of the nominee’s contribution, and how the support provided by the nominee is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or organisation who:

• Uses innovative approaches to promote children and young people’s participation in any decisions or actions that impact them.
• Shows innovation or excellence in advocacy for the voices of children and young people in care and their right to meaningfully participate in matters affecting them.
• Amplifies the voices of children and young people in consultation, policy, programs or practice.

Recognises the impact of an individual or team whose service has made a  positive difference to the lives of children or young people in contact with the child protection and family support system, in care, or with a care experience.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Describes the role of the nominee within the child protection system.
• Provides a specific example of outstanding service.
• Explains the impact and reach of the nominee’s service on the care and protection of children and young people in care.
• Demonstrates how the nominee’s contribution is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or team who:

• Demonstrates exceptional care and applies a child-centred approach to their work that is led and shaped by the experiences of children and young people.
• Meets the ever-changing needs of the children and young people they support and finds ways to support their development and wellbeing wherever possible.
• Embraces relationship-based practice in the interests of children and young people.
• Demonstrates exceptional care and/or uses innovative practices to engage at risk young people with gaining access to the support they need (this may include life skills, independent living, employment pathways, education-based support, culturally appropriate care, mental health).

Award Sponsor: CREATE Foundation

Recognises an individual or team’s outstanding contribution to health, disability or education outcomes for children and young people in care.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Describes the role of the nominee within the child protection and family support system.
• Provides specific examples of outstanding service.
• Explains the impact and reach of the nominee’s contribution to the wellbeing and development of all (or a targeted group of) children and young people in care.
• Demonstrates how the nominee’s contribution is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or team who:

• Demonstrate a commitment to the very best outcomes for children and young people through their ability to navigate the interface between service systems, including child protection.
• Focuses on breaking down potential barriers by promoting equitable access to services.
• Has created pathways for children and young people in care to access supports or receive services in ways that acknowledge their unique needs and experiences.
• Provides mentoring or support to children in care to engage in learning.

Awards sponsor: Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA

Recognises the contribution of new, innovative research or resources that support the child protection and family support sector’s understanding and knowledge in improving outcomes for children.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Describes the research or resource.
• Identifies an individual or team/organisation responsible for the research or resource and their role in the child protection and family support system.
• Explains the impact and reach of the research or resource on the child protection and family support sector’s understanding and knowledge in improving outcomes for children.
• Demonstrates how the nominee’s contribution
  is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or team/organisation responsible for research, resources or service models that:

• Applies a holistic approach that fosters active collaboration and communication across the sector.
• Transcends boundaries in the best interest of children, young people and families.
• Showcases new evidence and insights about where to target interventions.
• Progressively transfers service delivery to the Aboriginal Community Controlled sector.
• Promotes practices that address the unique needs of children and young people with a care experience.

Award Sponsor: Child and Family Focus SA

Recognises the contribution by an individual or team to provide outstanding services enabling better care and protection of children and young people in a rural or remote community.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Describes the role of the nominee within the child protection and family support system.
• Explains the impact and reach of the nominee’s service on the care and protection of children and young people in care in a regional area.
• Provides specific examples of outstanding service.
• Demonstrates how the nominee’s contribution is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or team who:

• Has delivered regional system reform leading to sustained improvement in the lives of children, young people and their families or carers.
• Influences the practice of others, through leadership, advocacy and mentoring, to better respond to the unique needs and experiences of rural or remote communities.
• Provides expert, strategic advice to improve support and decision making for children and young people in care in a regional context.
• Develops and implements programs that improve outcomes for at risk young people in regional areas.
• Champions the rights of carers, children and young people through the development and delivery of training or new innovative models of care in regional areas.
• Works creatively with the resources and assets of a rural or remote context.

Award Sponsor: Uniting Country SA

Recognises an assessed and approved foster, specific-child only or permanent carer, who has made a significant contribution to the lives of children and young people in care.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Introduces the carer/s.
• Clearly indicates the role the carer has played in the lives of children and young people.
• Demonstrates how the carer/s’ dedication and commitment make a significant contribution to improving the lives of children and young people in their care.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include a carer who:

• Has provided exceptional care, support and stability to a child or young person.
• Is overcoming challenges to advocate for children and young people’s needs and creating a positive effect on young lives.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the importance of connection to culture and kin for children or young people in their care, and working with agencies and the child protection and family support sector to prioritise this connection.
• Is being proactive in nurturing and encouraging children in their care while ensuring they get the assistance they need to thrive.

Recognises an assessed and approved kinship carer, who has made a significant contribution to the lives of children and young people in care.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Introduces the kinship carer/s.
• Clearly indicates the role the kinship carer/s has played in the lives of children and young people.
• Demonstrates how the carer/s’ dedication and commitment make a significant contribution to improving the lives of children and young people in their care.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include a carer who:

• Has provided exceptional care, support and stability to a child or young person.
• Is overcoming challenges to advocate for children and young people’s needs and creating a positive effect on young lives.
• Demonstrates an understanding of the importance of connection to culture and kin for children or young people in their care and working with agencies and the child protection and family support sector to prioritise this connection.
• Is being proactive in nurturing and encouraging children in their care while ensuring they get the assistance they need to thrive.

Recognises the incredible dedication, effort and community service of a volunteer working with a government or non-government agency to support children and young people in care.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Introduces the volunteer.
• Details the nominee’s volunteering role.
• Describes the impact of the volunteer’s voluntary work to children/young people in out of home care.
• Provide an example of the invaluable contribution/s the nominee has made to the child protection and family support system.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include a volunteer who:

• Establishes connection to promote safety and comfort.
• Has experienced general or specific interactions through volunteering that have had a positive impact.
• Has provided a significant length of service.

Recognises the outstanding contribution of an individual, group or business in supporting children or young people in contact with the child protection and family support system to feel like a valued part of their community.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Explains the role of the individual, group or business.
• Explains the impact and reach of the nominee’s contribution in supporting children and young people in contact with the child protection and family support system.
• Describes how the nominee’s efforts have supported children and young people in contact with the child protection and family support system to feel like a valued part of their community.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual, group or business:

• Has supported access to, or offered, tailored programs to children or young people in care to grow as individuals, develop leadership potential, or experience employment.
• Provides practical support that recognises the valuable contribution of family based carers.
• Has supported young people in care in developing life skills.
  Provides children and young people in care with opportunities for enjoyment, participation and recreation.

Recognises an individual who, through exceptional dedication and commitment, has made a significant contribution to the child protection and family support system for at least 15 years.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Provides an introduction to the individual.
• Outlines the timeframe that the nominee has contributed to child protection and family support  for (minimum 15 years).
• Provides examples of the exceptional dedication and contribution to child protection and family support provided by the individual.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an
individual who:

• Has shown an exceptional commitment to positively impacting the lives of children, young people and their families.
• Demonstrates a deep commitment to child protection and family support and is an ambassador for the work of the profession.
• Has shown steadfast dedication to shaping a child protection and family support sector that will equip us for the future.
• Has achieved sustained positive change throughout their career.