Foster carers who have supported hundreds of children between them and educators helping vulnerable students thrive are among the finalists of the 2025 SA Child Protection & Family Support Awards.

The awards celebrate the incredible efforts of child protection and family support partners including carers, volunteers and philanthropists and those working in health, education, the non-government sector.

The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on September 5 at the Adelaide Convention Centre, ahead of National Child Protection Week (8 – 11 September).

Freeling resident Karen Davis is among the Foster Carer of the Year finalists. The 52-year-old has supported about 30 children, including three sets of twins, since taking on the role as a respite, emergency and long-term carer 23 years ago.

"I was a recently separated single mum with a three-year-old daughter and I thought about how I wanted to contribute, to help others, and in a way, surround my daughter with children," she said.

"I saw an ad on TV to become a foster carer, went through the process to become a carer and before I knew it, I had two young twin boys in my care and it went from there."

Ms Davis said she was shocked to find out she was a finalist, and even more surprised to learn her 20-year-old foster son Shawn had nominated her.

"That he thought enough of me to nominate me, it really just blew my mind, it was such a lovely thing to do."

More than 300 nominations were received across 12 award categories.

The Department for Child Protection hosts the awards in partnership with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).

Uniting Country SA is the 2025 gold awards sponsor, while the HenderCare Foundation and SYC are silver sponsors.

The 2025 SA Child Protection and Family Support Awards finalists are:

Outstanding Achievement of a Young Person (or group of Children/Young People) who has had a Care Experience (up to 25 years)

  • Ashton Goodall
  • Tyrell
  • Joshua Cugley
  • Tia-Louise Rigney

Active Efforts Award

  • Tara and Scott Forbes-Godfrey – Lutheran Care
  • Relationships Australia SA Ngartuitya Family Group Conferencing
  • Life Without Barriers Residential Care

The Voice of Children and Young People in Care

  • DCP Mt Barker Young People's  Council
  • Yarrow Place Youth Team
  • Jordan Zeitz – Department for Child Protection Woodville

Minister for Child Protection Lifetime Achievement Award

  • Karen Magnusson – Department for Education, Respite Care Program
  • Joyce Clark – Department for Child Protection Noarlunga
  • Diana Allwood - Centacare

Outstanding Service Award – Positive Impact

  • Grandcarers SA
  • Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network - Keeping Families Healthy and Together
  • Community Living Options – Manuka Team

Outstanding Service Award – Health, Wellbeing and Development

  • Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation – Cocoon Program
  • Salisbury East High School Wellbeing and Learning Program
  • Tracy Pratt – Millicent North Kindergarten

Outstanding Service Award – Regional Impact

  • Solomontown Kindergarten
  • Judith Pearce – Department for Child Protection, Mt Barker
  • Jacqueline Kranz – Flinders Upper North Local Health Network, Whyalla
  • SAPOL Far North Family Violence Port Augusta

Outstanding Service Award – Sector Development  

  • Dr Lauren Lines, Flinders University
  • Centacare Catholic Community Services Foster Care program – Reunification Model
  • The Reily Foundation – the Direct Experience Group

South Australian Foster Carer of the Year  

  • Andrea and Kristian Fleming, Adelaide
  • Carolyn Moyes and Wayne Stasinowsky, Mt Gambier
  • Judy and Tony McKenzie, Adelaide
  • Karen Davis, Freeling

South Australian Kinship Carer of the Year

  • Betty and Shaun Wilson, Adelaide
  • Paula Rankine, Adelaide
  • Nellie Egan, Adelaide
  • Lisa and Matthew Davis, Adelaide

Volunteer of the Year

  • Dylan Strudwick – Department for Child Protection
  • Jan Ramsdale – Department for Child Protection

Community Service Award

  • Department for Education School Retention Program
  • Power Community Limited – Port Adelaide Football Club
  • Fiona Endacott – Connecting Foster and Kinship Carers SA

To find out more about the awards, visit childprotection.sa.gov.au/awards