These awards aim to showcase excellence, innovation and a commitment to making a difference to the lives of children, young people, families and carers by staff from across all areas of the department.

We are pleased to be able to share the winners, as below:

• Achieving Practice Excellence - Regional Service Delivery Award: Emily Keller, Senior Social Worker, Playford Office, North Region
• Achieving Practice Excellence - Out of Home Care and Residential Care Award: Whyalla Seniors, Residential Care
• Achieving Practice Excellence - Specialist Services Award: Mark Turner and the Specialist Service Team, Strategy, Partnerships and Reform
• Achieving Practice Excellence - Specialist Services Award: Psychological Services, Far North Far West Team, Quality and Practice
• Achieving Practice Excellence - Aboriginal Practice Award: Genevieve Dodman, Social Worker, Woodville Office, Central Region
• Honouring the Aboriginal Child Placement Principle Award: Georgina Auri-Cockatoo, Lead Project Officer, Quality and Practice
• Valuing our Carers Award: Amy Selway, Supervisor, Inner South Office,  South Region
• Supporting our Staff Award: Implementation of Humanforce Rostering System, Central Rostering Team, Humanforce System Administration Team and Projects and Performance Team, Residential Care and ICT
• Working with Partners Award: SA Child Protection Awards Organising Committee, Sector Engagement and Intergovernmental Relations, Strategy Partnerships and Reform
• Designing a Care System Based on Need Award: Multicultural Services, Central Region
• Delivering Quality and Safety Award: Residential Care Recruitment, On-boarding and Induction Approach, Human Resources and Residential Care
• Leadership Excellence Award: Shalini McCarthy, Manager, Limestone Coast Office, South Region
• Aboriginal Employee of the Year Award: Annette Groat, Aboriginal Practice Lead, Aboriginal Practice

We were also honoured to have Nick Reade, Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet present to announce DCP’s first Making a Difference Award winner, Shalini McCarthy. Shalini will now go on to represent the department in the Premier’s Excellence Awards.

A video was also created to showcase how all areas of the department make a difference to the lives of children, young people and families. You can watch it on our DCP YouTube channel.