Two social workers from our Port Augusta office have taken out awards at the 2019 South Australian Social Worker of the Year Awards.
Congratulations to Department for Child Protection (DCP) social workers Tara Blaikie and Emma Drummond - both from the Port Augusta office - for taking out two awards at the 2019 South Australian Social Worker of the Year Awards last week.
Acting Principal Social Worker Tara was awarded the Rural and Remote Impact Award and Social Worker Emma Drummond, who has spent just two years working for the department, picked up the Rising Star Award.
The judges praised Tara for achieving positive outcomes for children in her region by using knowledge of local communities and social work values, and Emma was commended for applying high levels of cultural responsiveness in her delivery of child protection services in the region.
Emma Drummond (left) and Tara Blaikie (right), pictured with colleague Julie Powell (centre) at the South Australian Social Worker of the Year Awards night last week.
DCP Chief Executive Cathy Taylor said the department was proud to be a Gold Sponsor of the Awards and recognised the important role of social workers in the community.
“We are pleased to partner with the Australian Association of Social Workers to deliver these Awards, which highlight the positive impact social workers have on our most vulnerable children and families,” Cathy said.
“Social workers are amazing people who make a world of difference to those who are experiencing difficulty in their lives.
“I congratulate all the winners and thank all those who nominated, for the effort they put in day in, day out, to help others.”
Congratulations to the 10 other DCP finalists who do an amazing job working with children and families across the state.
| Emily Brown | Lead Clinician Disability Support, Disability Support and Intervention |
| Chelsea Gore | Social Worker, Gawler |
| Vafa Jabner | Senior Social Worker, Port Augusta |
| Shalini McCarthy | Supervisor, Mount Gambier |
| Catherine Mubinya | Social Worker, Hindmarsh |
| Jeremy Newsome | Senior Social Worker, Elizabeth |
| Mara Penna | Supervisor, DCP Call Centre |
| Jessica Romeo | Social Worker, Blair Athol |
| Rochelle Thiele | Senior Clinician Intensive, Adolescent Services, Residential Care |
| Ryan Williams | Senior Social Worker, Long Term Guardianship, Out-of-Home Care |
For more information about the Awards, visit the Australian Association of Social Workers website.