Recognises an individual or organisation that has demonstrated excellence through active efforts to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

Active efforts include purposeful, thorough, and timely actions to uphold one or more of the elements of Prevention, Partnership, Placement, Participation and Connection.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Explains the role of the individual or organisation.
• Describes how the individual or organisation have made active efforts to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
• Provides details of how the nominee has gone above and beyond what is expected to implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or organisation:

• Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination and cultural safety to achieve the best outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families or carers.
• Embedding the development and implementation of policy, programs or practice honouring connection to family, community, culture and Country.
• Advocating for the safety, welfare and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families.
• Providing culturally safe practice that embeds Aboriginal-led decision making, supporting connection to culture and promoting self-determination.
• Listening to Aboriginal voices and demonstrating respect for Aboriginal people’s knowledge of culture and community.
• Working alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to ensure Aboriginal children and young people and their families get the right support at the right time.
• Engaging in active and dedicated efforts to meet obligations under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Awards sponsor: Commissioner for Aboriginal Children and Young People

Honours an individual whose long‑standing dedication and commitment has made a lasting impact on child protection and family support over 15 years or more.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Provides an introduction to the individual.
• Outlines the timeframe that the nominee has contributed to child protection and family support (minimum 15 years).
• Gives examples of the exceptional dedication and contribution to child protection and family support provided by the individual.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual who:

• Has shown an exceptional commitment to positively impacting the lives of children, young people and their families.
• Demonstrates a deep commitment to child protection and family support, and is an ambassador for the work of  the sector.
• Has shown steadfast dedication to shaping a child protection and family support sector that will equip us for the future.
• Has achieved sustained positive change throughout their career.

Recognises an individual or team that has had a meaningful and positive impact on children or young people in care, or with a care experience.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Describes the role of the nominee within the child protection and family support system.
• Provides a specific example of outstanding service.
• Explains the impact and reach of the nominee’s service on the care and protection of children and young people in care.
• Demonstrates how the nominee’s contribution is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include
an individual or team:

• Demonstrating exceptional care, applying a child-centred approach to their work led and shaped by the experiences of children and young people.
• Meeting the ever-changing needs of the children and young people they support and finding ways to support their development and wellbeing wherever possible.
• Embracing relationship-based practice in the interests of children and young people.
• Demonstrating exceptional care and/or using innovative practices to engage young people with gaining access to the support they need (this may include life skills, independent living, employment pathways, education-based support, culturally-appropriate care, mental health).

Awards sponsor: Lutheran Care

Recognises outstanding service by an individual or team supporting children and young people in rural or remote communities.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Describes the role of the nominee within the child protection and family support sector.
• Explains the impact and reach of the nominee’s service on the care and protection of children and young people in care in a regional or remote area.
• Provides specific examples of outstanding service.
• Demonstrates how the nominee’s contribution is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or team:

• Delivering regional or remote system reform leading to sustained improvement in the lives of children, young people and their families or carers.
• Influencing the practice of others, through leadership, advocacy and mentoring, to better respond to the unique needs and experiences of rural or remote communities.
• Providing expert, strategic advice to improve support and decision-making for children and young people in care in
  a regional or remote context.
• Developing and implementing programs that improve outcomes for children and young people in regional areas.
• Championing the rights of children, young people, and carers through the development and delivery of training or new innovative models of care in regional or remote areas.

Celebrates an approved foster, specific-child only or long-term guardianship carer/s who has made an exceptional contribution to the lives of children and young people in care.

Selection Criteria

Nominees’ status as approved foster, specific-child only or long term guardianship (specified person) must be verified by DCP.

The nomination:

• Introduces the carer/s.
• Clearly indicates the role they have played in the lives of children and young people.
• Demonstrates how their dedication and commitment make a significant contribution to improving the lives of children and young people in their care.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include a carer who:

• Provides exceptional care, support and stability to a child or young person.
• Overcomes challenges to advocate for children and young people’s needs and creating a positive effect on young lives.
• Demonstrates an exceptional understanding of, and enables connection to, culture and kin for children and young people in care.
• Is proactive in nurturing and encouraging children in their care while ensuring they get the assistance they need to thrive.

Awards sponsor: Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA

Celebrates an approved kinship carer/s who has made an exceptional contribution to the lives of children and young people in care.

Selection Criteria

Nominees’ status as approved kinship carers must be verified by DCP.

The nomination:

• Introduces the kinship carer/s.
• Clearly indicates the role they have played in the lives of children and young people.
• Demonstrates how their dedication and commitment make a significant contribution to improving the lives of children and young people in their care

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include carers who have:

• Provides exceptional care, support and stability to a child or young person.
• Overcomes challenges to advocate for children and young people’s needs and creating a positive effect on young lives.
• Demonstrates an exceptional understanding of, and enables connection to, culture and kin for children and young people in care.
• Is proactive in nurturing and encouraging children in their care while ensuring they get the assistance they need to thrive.

Awards sponsor: Connecting Foster & Kinship Carers SA

Recognises innovation that grows sector knowledge, capability and collaboration to improve outcomes for children, families and carers.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Describes the nominee’s role in strengthening the child protection and family support sector, including their contribution to shared knowledge, capability and collaborative practice.
• Provides a clear example of innovation led by the nominee that has improved sector practice or addressed a gap in knowledge or capability.
• Demonstrates the impact and reach of the nominee’s contribution, showing how their work has influenced practitioners or services and improved outcomes for children and families.
• Explains what makes the nominee’s approach unique or forward thinking, highlighting how it supports collaboration and sustainable sector improvement.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or team/organisation responsible for research, resources or service models:

• Applying a holistic approach that fosters active collaboration and communication across the sector.
• Transcending boundaries in the best interest of children, young people and families.
• Showcasing new evidence and insights about where to target interventions.
• Progressively transferring service delivery to the Aboriginal Community Controlled Sector.
• Promoting practices that address the unique needs of children and young people with a care experience.

Award Sponsor: Child and Family Focus SA

Recognises an individual or organisation championing the voices of children and young people in care, in decision‑making.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Introduces the individual or organisation, including the nominee’s role working with children and young people in care.
• Provides one or more examples of the nominee’s contribution to supporting children and young people to be heard in decisions that impact them.
• Describes the impact of the nominee’s contribution, and how the support they have provided is unique or innovative.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include an individual or organisation:

• Using innovative approaches to promote children and young people’s participation in any decisions or actions that impact them.
• Showing innovation or excellence in advocacy for the voices of children and young people in care and their right to meaningfully participate in matters affecting them.
• Amplifying the voices of children and young people in consultation, policy, programs or practice.

Award Sponsor: Guardian for Children and Young People

Recognises the outstanding dedication and community service of a volunteer supporting children and young people in care.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Introduces the volunteer.
• Details the nominee’s volunteering role.
• Describes the impact of the volunteer’s voluntary work to children or young people in care.
• Provides an example of the invaluable contribution the nominee has made to the child protection and family support sector.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include a volunteer who:

• Establishes connection to promote safety and comfort.
• Has experienced general or specific interactions through volunteering that have had a positive impact.
• Has provided a significant length of volunteer service.

Award Sponsor: Create Foundation

Recognises the achievement of a child or young person with a care experience, aged up to 25.

Selection Criteria

The nomination:

• Provides a comprehensive introduction to the child/young person (or a group of children/young people).
• Describes the achievements of the child/young person (or group of children/young people).
• Provides insight into the impact or outcome of the outstanding achievement/s for self or others.

We welcome nominations on a variety of achievements. Some examples include a child or young person who:

• Inspires others through sharing their lived experience.
• Effects positive change through championing and advocating for other children and young people with a care experience.
• Displays an ability to push through adversity and grow through challenges while remaining ambitious.

Award Sponsor: Commissioner for Children & Young People