The awards recognise staff who have shown excellence in their role and commitment to DCP priorities and values.

The Collaborative Partnerships Award recognises employees or teams who have demonstrated excellence in collaborating and working together with our service partners, and alongside community to improve outcomes for children, young people, carers and families.

The working group was established with Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff to encourage children and young people attend cultural days to develop relationships with Aboriginal communities and Elders.

The group’s first Cultural Connection Day in April attracted 200 people and included teachings of the Kaurna and Ngarrindjeri culture, dance, language, dreaming and connections.

NAIDOC Week t-shirt workshops were also held over two days for 40 children in June.

The other finalists were Executive Director for Strategy Partnerships and Reform, Karen McAuley, and the Communications and Engagement team which publishes Partner.

A full list of recipients:

Achieving Practice Excellence (This award has six sub-categories)

• Regional service delivery - Adam Evans, Case Worker, Country Case Management Team, Far North Far West

• Remote service delivery - Rick Carrick, Supervisor, Far North Far West, APY Lands

• Corporate/support staff service delivery - Chrysti Magias, Field Education Worker, Human Resources

• Out of home care/Residential care - Ashlee Greaves, Youth Worker, Residential Care, Out of Home Care

• Specialist services - Psychological Services, Quality and Practice 

• Aboriginal practice - Heidi Brook, Principal Policy and Project Officer, Aboriginal Practice

Closing the Gap (Joint winners)

Cultural Connection Working Group, North

Project team, Far North Far West

Partnering with Carers

Lorraine Richens, Kinship Care Worker, Central (Kinship Care, based in Port Pirie)

Supporting & Valuing our Staff

Humaira Yousaf, Kinship Supervisor, Central (Kinship Care)

Collaborative Partnerships

Cultural Connection Working Group, North

Service Delivery Excellence

Port Augusta team, Far North Far West (Port Augusta)

Delivering Quality and Safeguarding

Practice leaders, Quality and Practice

Leadership Excellence

Josh Springham, Supervisor, Residential Care, Out of Home Care

Aboriginal Employee of the Year

Stacey Birmingham, Senior Policy and Project Officer, Aboriginal Practice