2023 Victorian Protecting Children Awards in Australia

Deadline: 19-May-23

Nominations are now open for the 2023 Victorian Protecting Children Awards to recognise and celebrate individuals, teams and groups who demonstrate excellence in working with children, young people, families and carers.

This year marks a significant milestone as they celebrate 20 years of these prestigious awards that highlight the pivotal work and passion across the Victorian child and family services sector and community.

Anyone can nominate people and teams for these awards. It is a great way to show how much you value their efforts and acknowledges their dedication to making a positive difference for children and families in the Victorian community.

Awards and Recognition

Each Award finalist will be invited to attend the Awards ceremony which will be held in early September 2023 where the Award recipients will be announced and presented with their Award.
Award finalists and Nominators under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to attend the Awards ceremony.
All travel costs associated with an Award finalist, their Nominator and parent or legal guardian (if applicable) attending the Awards ceremony and other related costs are the responsibility of the Award finalist and their Nominator.
The names of the Award winners and/or finalists may be published on the Department’s website, newspapers and other media channels.

Award Categories

Robin Clark Leadership Award
- The winner of this pre-eminent award epitomises Robin Clark and her legacy of inspiring leadership and influential stewardship of child and family policy and practice in Victoria.
- This award recognises an individual whose leadership inspires others to act wisely and care deeply about achieving the best outcomes for children, young people and their families or carers.
- Nominees in this category have a distinguished track record as visionary and transformative leaders in practice, policy, research or education.
Robin Clark Making a Difference Award
- The team or group winners of this award embody Robin Clark’s vision and legacy of a well-connected community and service system contributing to better outcomes for children, young people and their families or carers.
- This award recognises the exceptional contribution of a team or group of people who have worked to directly improve the lives of children, young people, families and carers in Victoria. This can be in partnership or collaboration with government and non-government agencies.
- The winners of this award strive to achieve excellence and their work shows insight, practicality and respect for the needs of children, young people, families are carers, including supporting Aboriginal self-determination to achieve the best outcomes for Aboriginal children, young people and their families or carers.
Minister’s Award for Excellence in Protecting Children
- This award recognises an individual, team or group that have advanced their approach or intervention to achieve the best possible outcomes for children, young people and their families or carers.
- These advances can be demonstrated across the child and family services sector through case management, education, prevention and early intervention, or the provision of care to children and young people in care services (including secure welfare services).
Carer Award
- This award recognises approved kinship, foster and permanent carers, both past and present, who have made a significant contribution to the lives of children and young people in care.
Engaging Kids in School Award
- This award recognises education is fundamental to the development of individuals and families and helps build a strong community.
- The winners of this award are an individual, team or group who have supported children and young people in their schooling journey or introduced young children to early years and pre-school programs.
Keeping At Risk Young People Safe Award
- This award recognises an individual, team or group that best supports at risk youth. The winner of this award prioritises empowering young people in the decision-making process and assists them to achieve their goals.
CREATE Positive Impacts 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 care system.
Child and Youth Empowerment Award – Commission for Children and Young People
- This award was established by the Principal Commissioner for Children and Young People and recognises an individual, team or organisation who has achieved excellence in realising children’s and young people’s right to meaningfully participate in matters affecting them.
Leaving a Legacy Award
- This award recognises the people who have made a significant contribution to the child, youth, and family services sector throughout their career as well as making an impact on their local community.
- ‘Leaving a Legacy’ acknowledges those who have positively contributed to the sector and whose remarkable achievements should be highlighted.
The Walda Blow Aboriginal Children and Young People Award
- This award recognises contributions of an Aboriginal person, persons or organisations in Victoria to the safety and wellbeing of Aboriginal children and young people.

Eligibility Criteria

Nominees and nominated teams (including each individual team member) must:
- Be a living Australian resident (temporary or permanent); and
- have contributed to the improvement of outcomes for children, young people and their families or carers in Victoria, through their work in the community, public sector, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCO), community service organisations, education or academia; 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 their families or carers 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 nominated.