Nominations are now open for the Victorian Protecting Children Awards, which acknowledge the important work being done to protect our most vulnerable children.

These prestigious awards are a chance to recognise practitioners, workers, carers and community members from across the Victorian child and family services system who go above and beyond when working with vulnerable children, young people and families.

Nominations can be made across 14 award categories, including achievements in both the child and family services sector and child protection.

Child protection practitioners, carers, academics, policy advisors, community sector staff, education programs, and people working in child and family services are all eligible for an award.

Categories include the Minister’s Award for Innovation in Protecting Children, the Robin Clark Making a Difference and Leadership awards, and a new category for Supporting Young People in Care.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic the 2020 awards did not go ahead, so this year Victorians are encouraged to celebrate achievements made over the past 18 months. Previous winners include:

The Royal Children’s Hospital Gatehouse Centre Manager Karen Hogan, for her leadership in growing the centre to be a service of significant stature and authority in the treatment of sexual assault and trauma suffered by children and young people. The Family Drug Treatment Court for their ground-breaking, collaborative and solutions-focused approach to parent-child reunification.

Nominations close on 31 May and winners will be announced at the Victorian Protecting Children Awards event during Child Protection Week (5 September – 11 September).

For more information and to submit a nomination visit dhhs.vic.gov.au/protectingchildrenawards