A Whyalla social worker with almost 20 years of experience has been named a finalist in the South Australian Child Protection Awards.

Cass Mills, a Program lead with Centacare Catholic Country SA (CCCSA), was nominated in the Outstanding Service Award – Regional Impact category.

She is responsible for CCCSA’s child protection programs at Whyalla, Port Lincoln and Ceduna, which includes 71 foster care families and three residential care homes – two in Whyalla and one in Port Lincoln.

“It’s a very big area,” she said, “but as much as it’s a big area, I’ve got an amazing team and it makes my job so much easier.”

Cass was instrumental in the establishment of the residential care homes.

The two at Whyalla have now been operating for seven years and the Port Lincoln home only opened a few months ago.

“Definitely in Whyalla, I’ve seen multiple (family) reunifications which is quite rewarding,” she said. “That’s one of my favourite parts of the job.”

The SA Child Protection Awards are hosted by the Department for Child Protection (DCP) in partnership with the National Association for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN).

There are 12 categories celebrating the outstanding achievements of children and young people, carers, volunteers, staff and organisations from across the child protection sector.

Cass, who started her work with Centacare initially in its reunification program, said finding family-based care for children and young people was the provider’s primary objective.

To do that she relies on her connections in the community, built up during a lifetime living in Whyalla.

“I’m very big on relationships,” she said. “It helps to know the people you work with.”

So, when ask why she was nominated, Cass can’t point to one big moment.

“The nomination was for regional impact,” she said, “and to make an impact you have to be in the sector a long time. “There’s such a high turnover of people and the chance to make an impact is often lost because people leave the sector.

“To me it’s the small things along the way, rather than coming in and doing one thing.

“I’m actually really humbled to be nominated – I didn’t think I was making a huge difference, I do this work because its important to me, but I’m humbled to know? that people think I do.

“I’ve been to a couple of these awards ceremonies over the years and it’s just so lovely to see people being recognised.

“This nomination came from within the organisation (CCCSA), and that made me feel really special. I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else.”

The awards will be held during National Child Protection Week, on Friday 6 September at Adelaide Oval (Tarntanya Wama).

More information on the awards is available here: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/news-and-events/sa-child-protection-awards