Submit Nominations for 2021 Victorian Protecting Children Awards (Australia)

Deadline: 31-May-21

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Victorian Protecting Children Awards (VPCA).

The Victorian Protecting Children Awards are a great opportunity to nominate individuals, teams or carers who work tirelessly to protect children, young people and families that experience vulnerability.

The awards recognise practitioners, workers, carers and community members from across all areas of the Victorian child and family services system.

Foster and kinship carers, academics, policy, program, supervisory and direct service staff from community, government or academic organisations are encouraged to nominate anyone that they believe go above and beyond to ensure the wellbeing of children and young people.

Categories

The 2021 Victorian Protecting Children Awards recognise excellence in 14 categories. Nine categories are open to the child and family services sector, while five categories are internal Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) child protection practitioner awards.

Robin Clark Leadership Award: This award recognises an individual, team, or group at any level of leadership who inspires others to act wisely and care deeply about achieving the best outcomes for children, young people and their families. They may mentor, support, encourage or educate others. Nominees in this category are leaders or emerging leaders, demonstrating vision and innovation in their approach to practice, policy or research and education.
Robin Clark Making a Difference Award: This award recognises an individual, team, or group within the child and family service sector, who has made an exceptional contribution to directly improve the lives of children, young people and families in Victoria. This can be in partnership or collaboration with government and non-government agencies.
Education Initiative Award: This award recognises an individual, team or group that has demonstrated success improving educational outcomes for children and young people in child protection.
Minister’s Award for Innovation in Protecting Children: This award recognises an individual, team or group demonstrating innovative approaches and creative intervention to achieve the best possible outcomes for children, young people and their families. This innovation can be demonstrated across the child, youth and family services sector through case management, education, prevention and early intervention, or the provision of care to children and young people in out-of-home care (including secure welfare services).
Carer Award: This award recognises past and present accredited foster or kinship carers who have made a significant contribution to the lives of children and young people where child protection has been involved in formal foster care.
Supporting Young People in Care Award: This award recognises an individual, team or group that goes above and beyond to support young people experiencing vulnerability. The winner of this award prioritises empowering young people in the decision-making process and assists them to achieve their goals.
CREATE Award: This award gives Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children and young people aged 8 – 25 years the opportunity to nominate someone such as a carer, support worker or agency who has made a positive difference to their lives, particularly through assisting them to have a voice within the out-of-home care system.
The Modelling a Generous Community Award: This award recognises someone who has made a significant contribution to enhancing the safety and wellbeing of Victorian children experiencing vulnerability; through demonstrating the highest level of sustained personal commitment to meaningfully connecting children to their local community.
The Walda Blow Award: This Award recognises contributions of an Aboriginal person in Victoria to the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people.
Emerging Leader Award (DFFH staff – CPP5 or CPP6): This award recognises an individual from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing who demonstrates talent as an emerging leader.
Rising Star Award (DFFH staff – CPP3 or CPP4): This award recognises an individual from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing who goes above and beyond to provide the best care for their clients.
Excellence in Case Practice Support Award (DFFH staff – CPP2): This award recognises an individual from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing who is committed to supporting positive client outcomes.
Outstanding Team Award (DFFH staff): This award recognises a team or group from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing that:
- Constantly tries to achieve best practice and is innovative in the work they do.
- Works collaboratively by sharing knowledge and information.
- Establishes and maintains effective partnerships across the department and broader sector to achieve better client outcomes.
- Fosters a supportive team working environment, encouraging every team member to be the best version of their professional self.
Chief Practitioner’s Award (DFFH staff): The Chief Practitioner’s award recognises an individual, team or group working in the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing child protection program that embodies best practice, commitment and leadership. This award is aimed exclusively at the department’s child protection practitioners.

Eligibility Criteria

Nominees and nominated teams must:
- be Australian residents (temporary or permanent); and
- have contributed to the improvement of outcomes for children, young people and families in Victoria, through their work in the community, public sector, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO), community service organisations, education or academic; and
- not have previously won a Victorian Protecting Children Award (under this or any previous name), in their individual capacity or as part of a team (where applicable) for work of the same nature within the last three (3) years.
Nominations must focus on the specific contributions of the nominees.
A person cannot nominate themselves, whether in an individual capacity or as a member of a team.
A team may comprise of up to ten people:
- from the same organisation working on a common project;
- from different organisations working on a common project; or
- working together, to achieve better outcomes for children, young people and families in Victoria.
Members of the judging panel, employees and contractors of the department who are directly involved in conducting the Awards as well as their immediate families, are ineligible to be a nominee.