Published Wednesday, 24 January, 2007 at 10:01 AM

Minister for Child Safety
The Honourable Desley Boyle
26 children’s advocates win Australia Day Awards
Twenty-six child protection advocates from Brisbane, Caboolture, Redcliffe, Inala, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville have been acknowledged for their service and commitment to protecting Queensland’s most vulnerable children and young people.
Child Safety Minister Desley Boyle presented them with awards at the Child Safety Department’s annual Australia Day Awards ceremony in Brisbane.
Those recognised include people from within the department, other sections of government and the community who have made outstanding contributions to child protection.
“The lead up to Australia Day is an ideal occasion to celebrate the efforts and contributions of ordinary Australians who achieve extraordinary things,” Ms Boyle said.
“Child protection professionals are our community heroes. They do difficult work and deserve our admiration and respect. They are committed to keeping children away from abuse and neglect.
“These awards are a way of saying to advocates ‘you have been doing outstanding work, it has been noticed, it is appreciated and you are making a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children’.
Ms Boyle said Child Safety had come a long way since the department was formed in 2004.
“The budget has more than doubled to $503 million and staff numbers have increased by more than 75 per cent to about 2170 and we are actively recruiting even more.
“We have now implemented 107 of the 110 CMC recommendations, to build and strengthen Queensland’s child protection system.
“There’s more to do but Child Safety has turned a corner. None of this could have been achieved without passionate child protection advocates both in the department and in the community.
“But even the most tireless advocate can only do so much. The real answer is for parents to face up to their responsibilities to provide a safe and loving home.
Only then will our children be truly protected. After all, our children only get one chance at childhood,” Ms Boyle said.
Australia Day Awards Recipients include:
Central Office
- The Pyjama Foundation – a non-profit state-wide volunteer organisation providing the ‘Love of Learning’ programs to children in care.
- Dick White, Director, Strategic Services Branch, Policy and Programs Division
- Rebecca Murphy, Training Support Officer, Training and Specialist Support Branch, Service Delivery Partnerships Division
- Janeen Danslow, Acting Principal Training and Staff Support Officer, Training and Specialist Support Branch, Service Delivery Partnerships Division
- Julie Twigg, Principal Training and Staff Support Officer, Training and Specialist Support Branch, Service Delivery Partnerships Division
- Jacqui Craig, Director, Corporate Communications Branch, Corporate and Executive Service Division and previously, Director, Complaints, Case review and Investigation Branch, Office of the Director-General
- Michael Campbell, Director, Risk Management and Business Improvement, Corporate and Executive Services Division
- Tracey Anderson, Director, Information Services Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
- Tim Hodda, Director, Finance and Asset management, Corporate and Executive Services Division
- Stephen Lewis, Senior Human Resource Advisor, Corporate and Executive Services Division
- Rebecca Williams, Acting Divisional Coordinator, Corporate and Executive Services Division
Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Zone
- Robert Henderson , Child Safety Support Officers, FortitudeValley Child Safety Service Centre
- Senior Sergeant Peter Brewer, Caboolture Child Protection and Investigation Unit, and SCAN Core representative, Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Zone
- Detective Senior Sergeant Brett Barber, Officer in Charge, Redcliffe Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Zone
- Allison Scanlan, Court Coordinator, Redcliffe Child Safety Service Centre
- Lisa Mackie, Team Leader, Redcliffe Child Safety Service Centre
Logan and Brisbane West Zone
- Barbara Klym, Team Leader, Inala Child Safety Service Centre
- Sally Edwards, Senior Practitioner
Central Zone
- Jodie Manskie, Child Safety Officer, Bundaberg Child Safety Service Centre
- Moya Doherty, Child Safety Officer, Rockhampton North Child Safety Service Centre
- Bernadette Buckley, Acting Senior Practitioner, Mackay Child Safety Service Centre
Northern Zone
- Lynda Cameron, Manager, Wee Care Family – Shared Family Care, Northern Zone (Townsville)
Ends
Editors note: pictures of most recipients receiving their awards from the Minister are available
Media contact: 3224 7081
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