Wednesday evening on 1st June 2022 was a night full of glitz, glitter and glam that reached a crescendo with the very moving standing ovation given to this year’s recipients of PeakCare’s LEGEND Award – Priscilla and Geoff Dickie, parents of Allison Baden-Clay and the grandparents of her daughters! The evening kicked off with a highly informative Welcome to Country by Tommy from Tribal Experiences accompanied by the dulcet tones of the didgeridoo. This was followed by a ‘hello and thank you’ by Michael Currie, PeakCare’s Board President, a warm opening address by the Hon Leanne Linard MP, Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs, and a ‘mindful soliloquy’ by Lindsay Wegener, PeakCare’s Executive Director. This set the scene for introducing to the stage, the queen of glitz, glitter and glam, Ms Jenny Wynter. While rocking the house with her comedy and songs, Jenny also managed to bring tears to the eyes of many in her heart-felt tribute to Geoff and Priscilla.
PeakCare warmly congratulates all who received Awards and Special Commendations. Our congratulations are also extended to all who were nominated for an Award. As stated by Michael Currie in his speech, “Someone somewhere took the time to nominate you, and there can be no greater acknowledgement of your achievements than that which is provided by your peers”. Thank you to all who supported this event and helped make it a celebration of Queensland’s child protection sector.
PeakCare Awards Winners – 2022
SIC Award
(Translation: good, awesome)
Family Inclusion Network, South East Queensland
The SIC Award sponsored by the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership was awarded to the Family Inclusion Network (FIN) Southeast Queensland for innovative and exemplary design and delivery of services to Queensland children, young people and families. The Award was announced and presented by Commissioner Luke Twyford, Queensland Family and Child Commission standing in for Michael Hogan, Convenor of the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership. Click here to read FIN SEQ’s nomination.
SIC Award Special Commendations
Special commendations were awarded to:
- KICS (Kummara and Infinity Community Solutions) Kinship Service, and
- ‘The Base’, a partnership of St Vincent de Paul, Nambour College and the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs.
DEADLY AWARD
(No translation needed)
Candice Butler, Director of Innovation and Practice Development, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak
The DEADLY Award sponsored by the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) was awarded to Candice Butler for her work in promoting self-determination by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in relation to the safety and wellbeing of their children, young people and families. The Award was announced and presented by Garth Morgan, QATSICPP’s Chief Executive Officer. Click here to read Candice’s nomination.
DEADLY Award Special Commendations
Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Delegated Authority Early Adopter Sites in Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast, a partnership between Refocus, Central Queensland Indigenous Development (CQID) and the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, and
- Sarah De Lemos and Tarsha Jones, representatives of the partnership between the Institute for Urban and Indigenous Health and The Benevolent Society for Bringing the Early Years Approach to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
WOKE AWARD
(Translation: Highly aware of social issues)
‘New Ways for Our Families’, a collaboration between: the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak, Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety, and Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University
The WOKE Award sponsored by the Queensland Family and Child Commission was awarded to the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak, Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety and the Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University for their collaboration in producing ‘New Ways for Our Families’ and its influence in achieving improved outcomes for Queensland children, young people, parents and families. The Award was announced and presented by Commissioners Natalie Lewis and Luke Twyford from the Queensland Family and Child Commission. Click here to read the nomination of ‘New Ways for Our Families’.
WOKE Award Special Commendations
Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Commissioner Scott McDougall, Queensland Human Rights Commission, and
- Hazel Little, President of Queensland Foster and Kinship Care
LEGEND AWARD
(Translation: Fabulous; famous for their unique qualities and impact over many years)
Priscilla and Geoff Dickie, parents of Allison Baden-Clay and grandparents of her daughters
The LEGEND Award sponsored by the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs was awarded to Priscilla and Geoff Dickie, parents of Allison Baden-Clay and grandparents of her daughters for their legendary contribution to the wellbeing of Queensland children, young people and families. The Award was announced and presented by the Hon Leanne Linard MP, Minister for Children and Youth Justice and Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Kate Connors, Deputy Director-General, Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs. Click here to read Pricilla and Geoff Dickie’s nomination.
LEGEND Award Special Commendations
Special Commendations were awarded to:
- BABI Youth and Family Service, and
- Hazel Little, President of Queensland Foster and Kinship Care
THANKS MATE AWARD
(PeakCare’s own award)
Dr Meredith Kirali
The THANKS MATE Award is PeakCare’s own award. It is not made subject to a call for nominations or voting. Each year, the award goes to someone PeakCare believes is deserving of our thanks for their dedication and special contributions to the safety and wellbeing of Queensland children, young people and families. Our Thanks Mate Award for 2022 was awarded to Dr Meredith Kirali for her exemplary academic research relating to ‘informal kinship care’ and the support and motivation she has provided to PeakCare in our advocacy for better recognition and support for informal kinship carers and the children in their care.
PeakCare sincerely thanks:
- Members of our esteemed Voting Panel (Michael Hogan, Natalie Lewis, Chris-Maree Sultmann and Karen Struthers)
- Our Award Sponsors (Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak, Queensland Family and Child Commission and the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs)
- Our Ticket Sponsors (The Benevolent Society, Churches of Christ in Queensland, Infinity Community Solutions, Key Assets, Kyabra, Life Without Barriers, Mercy Community, Ian Nussey, Carol Ronken and three Anonymous Donors)
- Our Lucky Door, Competition and Raffle Prize Donors (Lumen + Luxe, Mayfield Chocolates, Good Bean Milton, Olive Paddington, Complete Skin and Beauty, Marinara Trattoria, Tiramisu Ristorante, Sassafras Paddington, The Paddo, Lifeline Online Shop, Thousand Island Dressing, Paninni’s, The Ginger Factory, Key Assets, Crocheted Rug (Private donor), Fontayne Selections, Spiros, Embassy Cellars, The Guitar Shop, Meadowbrook Golf Club and Jon Crosbie Jeweller)
Click here to view our photo gallery.
You can post your congratulations to the Award and Special Commendation recipients on our Facebook page.
PeakCare Awards Winners – 2020-21
SIC Award
(Translation: good, awesome)
Central Queensland Indigenous Development (CQID)
The SIC Award sponsored by the Queensland Family and Child Commission was awarded to Central Queensland Indigenous Development (CQID) for innovative and exemplary design and delivery of services to Queensland children, young people, parents and families. The Award was announced and presented by Commissioner Natalie Lewis. Click here to read CQID’s nomination.
SIC Award Special Commendations
Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Bravehearts’ Turning Corners Program
- CREATE Team Brisbane
- Kyabra and Edmund Rice Camps
- Project Safeguard
DEADLY AWARD
(No translation needed)
Michael Currie
The DEADLY Award sponsored by the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak (QATSICPP) was awarded to Michael Currie for his work as Co-Chair of the Queensland Family Matters Leadership Group in promoting self-determination by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in relation to the safety and wellbeing of their children, young people and families. The Award was announced and presented by Garth Morgan, QATSICPP’s CEO. Click here to read Michael’s nomination.
DEADLY Award Special Commendations
Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Wynetta Dewis, CEO of the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS), and
- Daniel Yasso, Central Queensland Indigenous Development (CQID)
WOKE AWARD
(Translation: Highly aware of social issues)
Individual Flexibility Agreements Initiative
The WOKE Award sponsored by the Every Child Campaign run by The Benevolent Society was awarded to the Individual Flexibility Agreements Initiative for its advocacy and influence in achieving improved outcomes for Queensland children, young people, parents and families. The Award was announced and presented by Leith Sterling, Executive Director, The Benevolent Society. Click here to read the Individual Flexibility Agreement Initiative’s nomination.
WOKE Award Special Commendations
Special Commendations were awarded to:
LEGEND AWARD
(Translation: Fabulous; famous for their unique qualities and impact over many years)
Dr Jeannette Young, Queensland’s Chief Health Officer
The LEGEND Award sponsored by the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs was awarded to Dr Jeannette Young for her legendary contribution to the wellbeing of Queensland children, young people, parents and families. The Award was announced and presented by Deidre Mulkerin, Director-General, Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs. Click here to read Dr Young’s nomination. Click here to view Dr Young’s acceptance speech.
LEGEND Award Special Commendations
Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Rosemary Bell, YFS
- Bryan Smith, Foster and Kinship Care Queensland
THANKS MATE AWARD
(PeakCare’s own award)
Jenny Gear (in memoriam)
The THANKS MATE Award is PeakCare’s own award. It is not made subject to a call for nominations or voting. The award goes to someone PeakCare believed is deserving of our thanks for their dedication and special contributions to the safety and wellbeing of Queensland children, young people and families. Our Thanks Mate Award was posthumously awarded to Jenny Gear and received on Jenny’s behalf by her children, Edowa and Nosa who were accompanied by Jenny’s good friend and colleague, Chris-Maree Sultmann.
PeakCare sincerely thanks our:
- Award Sponsors (Queensland Family and Child Commission, Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak, Ever Child Campaign run by The Benevolent Society and the Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs)
- Ticket Sponsors (Alison Bond, Compass Seminars, Every Child Campaign run by The Benevolent Society, Life Without Barriers, Infinity Community Solutions, YFS and an anonymous donor)
- Raffle prize donors (The Brow Bar, Compass Seminars, Freedom Property Investors, GWI, Joey Towels, Undersea Putt ‘n’ Play, Ron McMahon, Jenny Wegener, Minister Leanne Linard and Shadow Minister Amanda Camm), and
- esteemed voting panel (Susie Edwards, Commissioner Natalie Lewis, Michael Hagan (sic) and Paul Testro)
Click here to view our photo gallery.
You can add post your congratulations to the Award and Special Commendation recipients below or on our Facebook page.
PeakCare Awards Winners – 2019
(Translation: good awesome)
Leanne Clausen
The SIC Award sponsored by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women was awarded to Leanne Claussen for her establishment of Parents on a Mission and creation of ‘Leanne’s Gift’, a kit that provides emotional, practical and informational resources to assist parents when the removal of children from their care occurs. The Award was announced and presented by Michael Hogan, the Department’s Director-General.
SIC Award Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Early Indigenous Response Collective operating within the Moreton Region
- Joanne Roff from IFYS for partnering with the University of Melbourne on a research project with young kinship carers and her advocacy in seeking improvements to current policy and practice relating to kinship care in Queensland, and
- HALT Collective for outstanding results being achieved from several community-controlled organisations and government agencies within the Moreton Region in collaboratively applying a cultural lens to ensure that the best responses are being provided for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
DEADLY AWARD
(No translation needed)
Early Indigenous Response Collective
In presenting the Award to Darcy Cavanagh from REFOCUS, Natalie Lewis, QATSICPP’s Chief Executive Officer applauded the successful collaboration across several organisations in the Moreton Region in promoting early assessment and planning to ensure that responses are timely and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families are connected to the right support, thereby avoiding the need for statutory intervention.
DEADLY Award Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Services (Human Services Branch) for challenging the status quo and for their belief that all children, young people and families deserve the opportunity to succeed and lead their own change, and
- Aunty Cephia Williams for her tireless work over many years in stopping the forced removal of First Nation children from their families and advocating for the maintenance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children’s connection to country and culture.
WOKE AWARD
(Translation: Highly aware of social issues)
Queensland Family Matters Leadership Group
The WOKE Award sponsored by the Every Child Campaign was presented to Natalie Lewis, Co-Chair of the National Family Matters Campaign by Every Child Campaign Director, Karen Struthers. Ms Struthers said the award served as recognition of the impact of Family Matters in shaping legislative reforms that fully recognise all elements of the Child Placement Principle, and the Leadership Group’s contributions to the co-designing of the State Government’s Our Way Strategy.
WOKE Award Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Human Rights Act for Queensland Campaign for its successful advocacy in promoting the need for human rights legislation in Queensland, and
- Home Stretch Campaign’s Queensland Steering Committee for the concerted efforts of several non-government organisations and peak bodies in preparing for the launch of the campaign in Queensland.
LEGEND AWARD
(Translation: Fabulous; famous for their unique qualities and impact over many years)
Aunty Rachel Atkinson
The LEGEND Award went to Aunty Rachel Atkinson, CEO of Palm Island Community Company, member of the Qld First Children and Families Board, Co-Chair of Family Matters Qld and Chair of the Qld Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak. On presenting the Award, PeakCare’s Board President Darren Young said, “This award is presented to Aunty Rachel in recognition of her continual advocacy for better outcomes for her community. Instrumental, committed and passionate are just a few words that describe Aunty Rachel. We can now add ‘legendary’ to that list.”
LEGEND Award Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Michael (Mick) Shearer, Central Queensland Regional Executive Director, Dept of Child Safety, Youth and Women for his transformational leadership in motivating staff to innovate and create change, and
- Karyn Walsh AM for her longstanding advocacy and fearlessness in speaking up for those who don’t have a voice or choice.
THANKS MATE AWARD
(PeakCare’s own award)
Aimee McVeigh
The THANKS MATE Award is PeakCare’s own award. It is not made subject to a call for nominations or voting. The award went to Aimee McVeigh for her coordination of the Human Rights Act for Queensland Campaign and her dedicated advocacy in promoting the need for human rights legislation in Queensland, a cause that was strongly supported by PeakCare.
THANKS MATE Special Commendations were awarded to:
- Robert (Bob) Atkinson AO APM for the role he exercised throughout the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, his authoring of the 2018 Report on Youth Justice and his current role as Chair of the Truth, Healing and Reconciliation Taskforce
- Vanessa Summers, a legend in the making, for her passionate advocacy in achieving better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and families, and
- the late Mal (Muckoo) Walker for being at the forefront throughout his life in ensuring that all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people were afforded the same opportunities as every Australian child. This Special Commendation was presented to Mal’s son, Kevin Walker.