Award Winners and Dignitaries
On Friday night, September 8, the Ipswich Community came together for the 12th Annual Gala event at the Ipswich Events and Entertainment Centre at Bundamba to raise awareness and highlight the importance of child protection and child safety in our community.
At the Gala Dinner, awards were presented in recognition of the efforts, programs, services and achievements individuals and organisations have accomplished over the last 12 months to enhance the safety and well-being of the children in our community.
The event was facilitated by the Ipswich Region Child Protection Week Committee which is composed of members from the Queensland Police Service, Ipswich Community Youth Service (ICYS), Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, Somerset Regional Council and Ipswich City Council. The Committee functions to promote the safety and well-being of children.
The event also received support from Mission Australia Communities for Children Inala to Ipswich.
The award categories included;
- Non- Government Organisation,
- Government Organisation,
- Educational Program or Project,
- Youth Engagement,
- Cultural Award,
- Community Volunteer Award,
- LGBTIQ+ Award
The Award Nominees were;
- Brook Staff
- Evolve Therapeutic Services
- Family Participation Program, Kambu Health
- Intensive Family Support Service, Mission Australia
- Juyann Roberts
- Michelle Whiting
- On The Right Track, Kokoda Youth Foundation
- Queerswich
- Rainbow Chaos
Prior to the awards being presented the attendees received an informative presentation from Professor Ben Mathews from the School of Law at Queensland University of Technology,
Professor Mathews is also the lead investigator on the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. This Study is a five year project to identify the true prevalence of all five types of maltreatment in Australia, associated health outcomes and strategies for prevention.
The award winners included;
Non-Government Organisation Award – Exceptional contribution in child protection and child safety.
Cultural Award – Exceptional contribution that responds to our diverse cultural community and results in improved outcomes for children.
- Winner – Family Participation Program, Kambu Health
Community Volunteer  – Exceptional contribution made by a volunteer or group in the area of child protection and child safety.
Youth Engagement Award– Engagement and promotion of young people in activities, programs and projects encapsulating child safety or child protection.
- Winner – On the Right Track, Kokoda Foundation
LGBTIQ+ Award – Outstanding contribution that responds to our diverse LGBTIQ+ Community and results in improved and supported outcomes for children and young people.
The Ipswich District Child Protection Week Committee also acknowledged the outstanding contribution to child safety and child protection by Detective Senior Sergeant Troy Salton.
Detective Senior Sergeant Salton presented, with Yvonne Salton, the Troy Salton Memorial Award to Judy-Ann Roberts.
Judy-Ann was nominated for starting a playgroup at the Esk CWA Hall in September 2022. Judy-Ann identified that there were a number of new families moving to the region where housing was more affordable. The Group meets twice per month and now has twenty-one families registered with children ranging from 0-3 years. What a fantastic support network for mums and children in the community!
MP Shayne Neumann, Member for Blair with Winner of Troy Salton Memorial Award, Judy-Ann Roberts, Lyn Buchannan, Somerset Regional Council and Mrs Yvonne Salton.
On behalf of the committee, congratulations to all of the nominees and winners of each of the awards and thank you to our guest speakers as well as those who attended and showed a commitment to the safety and protection of our children.
Remember whilst Child Protection Week is once a year, the importance and messages of child protection and child safety are those that require us all to work together to make sure every child in every community every day has a fair go. Where we start matters!
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