Australia Day Awards for 35 child protection champions

Child Safety Minister Margaret Keech today honoured some of Queensland’s true heroes – the state’s child protection champions.

Mrs Keech presented awards to 35 child protection professionals and advocates at an Australia Day Awards ceremony at Parliament House, Brisbane.

Award recipients ranged from Department of Child Safety staff to those from community agencies, along with support staff who play a vital role in ensuring frontline officers can carry out their duties effectively.

“Today we recognise the driving forces behind the thousands of Child Safety success stories that often go unnoticed.” Mrs Keech said.

“We have over 6000 children in care and it is thanks to the dedicated efforts of our child protection workers that these children will sleep safely tonight.

“Australia Day is a celebration of our pride in our country – and these workers are people Australia should be proud of .

“They are true community heroes because they are protecting the lives of Queensland’s most vulnerable children.

“These awards are a way of offering our heartfelt thanks to all of those who devote so much of their lives to what is often a challenging field of community service.”

Mrs Keech also announced plans for a new award scheme to recognise those at the frontline of child protection.

"Child Safety workers will be honoured for their dedication, professionalism and hard work through the Annual Child Safety Practice Awards." Mrs Keech said.

“Our Child Safety Officers make decisions that are crucial to the safety of Queensland children on a daily basis, in challenging circumstances.

“Some of these choices can be life or death.

“The importance of their work cannot be over-stated, but it is often unrecognised.

“So in establishing these awards it is my hope that we can raise the profile, recognition and appreciation of Child Safety Officers within the community.”

Mrs Keech said it was a credit to the award recipients that the Department of Child Safety was now more child-focused and responsive than ever before.

“My department relies on the ongoing support of people such as the recipients of today’s awards to achieve its number one priority, that is to provide children and young people with the best opportunity to lead safe and happy lives.”

Department of Child Safety’s Australia Day Awards – Honours List

Brisbane Central Office recipients:

• Eden Wells, Manager – Employee Relations, Health and Wellbeing, Human Resources Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• John Clifford, Principal Business Advisor, Information Services Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Jennifer Brown, Senior Freedom of Information Officer, Freedom of Information Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Karen Wah Day, Senior Media Officer, Corporate Communications Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Jodie Drummond, Acting Assistant Cabinet, Legislation and Liaison Officer, Government and Executive Services Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Lemm Ex, Manager, Central Screening Unit, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Steve Habermann, Manager, Legal Services Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Michelle Duckworth, Manager, Freedom of Information Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Fiona Trenear, Principal Business Analyst, Finance and Asset Management, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Chris Buchanan, Acting Senior Business Analyst, Finance and Asset Management, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Graham Douglas, Facilities Coordinator, Finance and Asset Management Branch, Corporate and Executive Services Division
• Louise Witte, Senior Funding Policy Officer, Community Partnerships Branch, Service Delivery Partnerships Division
• Diane Robinson, Acting Manager, Quality Assurance Branch, Service Delivery Partnerships Division
• Patrick Palmer, Principal Training and Specialist Support Officer, Training and Specialist Support Branch, Service Delivery Partnerships Division

Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Zone recipients:

• Matthew Lupi, Zonal Director, Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast Zone
• Anna Ahfock, Child Safety Officer, Caloundra Child Safety Service Centre
• Annette Murray, Coordinator – Foster Care Program, Integrated Family and Youth Service (community agency)

Ipswich and Western Zone recipients:

• Maureen Brosnan, Zonal Office Manager, Ipswich and Western Zone

Logan and Brisbane West Zone recipients

• Airoleene Hamilton, Court Coordinator, Browns Plains Child Safety Service Centre
• Nirupa Wickremasinghe, Child Safety Officer, Inala Child Safety Service Centre

Northern Zone

• Hayley Nolan, Team Leader, Investigation and Assessment Backlog Team, Northern Zone
• Santina Winterkorn, Child Safety Support Officer, Thuringowa Child Safety Service Centre

Far Northern Zone

• Jessica McLeish, Team Leader, Cape Torres Child Safety Service Centre
• Brett Ambrum, Child Safety Support Officer, Innisfail Child Safety Service Centre
• Carol Phillips, Manager, Atherton Child Safety Service Centre
• Vina Duplock, Community Resource Officer, Far Northern Zone
• Karen Dini-Paul, Regional Manager, Cairns Contact House, Abused Child Trust (community agency)

Brisbane South and Gold Coast Zone

• Marie Lynham, Zonal Director, Brisbane South and Gold Coast Zone
• Alwynne Andrulis, Child Safety Support Officer, Beenleigh Child Safety Service Centre
• Central Zone
• Christine Heisner, Child Safety Support Officer, Gladstone Child Safety Service Centre
• Wendy Dreger, Administration and Information Officer, Bowen Child Safety Service Centre
• Mandy Dexter, Acting Senior Practitioner, Rockhampton South Child Safety Service Centre
• Kylie Wilson, Acting Investigation and Assessment Team Leader, Mackay Child Safety Service Centre
• Jodie Lucarini, Service Manager, Pathways Maryborough (community agency)

Media Contact: Matthew Hyde 3235 9236

Note: Professional photos of all award recipients are available upon request.