Robin Clark Memorial Awards
The Robin Clark Memorial Awards last week saw Department of Human Services staff recognised for their excellence in Child Protection. Community Services Minister, Lisa Neville, presented the awards at a ceremony launching Child Protection Week.
Veronica Martin was a joint winner of the 'Making a difference with children, young people and families' category. Veronica, who works in the North and West Metropolitan Region of the department, has 18 years' experience in child protection and currently manages the Aboriginal Focussed Unit, working with vulnerable Aboriginal children and families and promoting respectful practice. This award was jointly won by Robyn Di Virgilio, Chief Executive Officer of the agency CARA which operates four specialist residential facilities for young women who present with high risk issues, including parenting.
Jeanette Webb, High Risk Infant Manager from the department’s North and West Metropolitan Region was also highly commended in the awards along with Brigitte Boulet from Anglicare for her major contribution to foster care.
The Robin Clark Memorial Awards recognise and encourage work of the highest standards in service provision and practice based research in community, government and academic organisations to improve the lives of children, young people and families in Victoria. They are named after former Department of Human Services senior executive Robin Clark, who embodied inspirational leadership and service excellence, making a difference to the lives of countless children and young people.
Above: Gill Callister, Sectretary, Department of Human Services, Tony Clark (brother of Robin Clark), Veronica Martin, Lisa Neville, Minister, Community Services