Award Winners - 2004

Recipients of the Robin Clark Memorial Awards 2004 were announced on 26 April 2004 at a ceremony which recognised the outstanding service and inspirational leadership of five community care sector workers. Awards were presented by Former Community Services Minister, Sherryl Garbutt.

Award nominations are taken from volunteers and people working in either Public Service or Community Sector organisations. 

Inspirational Leadership in the Field - The dual winners in the leadership category are Heather Ploeger from the City of Greater Geelong and Lynda Campbell from the University of Melbourne. 

Making a difference with Children, Young People and Families

Winner: Christine Connors, Department of Human Services
Highly commended: Dianne Noyce, Lisa Lodge
Highly commended: Rob Ball, CREATE Foundation



Profile of Recipients:

Winners: For Inspirational Leadership in the Field

Heather Ploeger

Heather Ploeger with the Former Minister

Ms Ploeger is the team leader of City of Greater Geelong's Community Child Health Outreach Program and the Parenting Assessment and Skill Development Service. She has worked with vulnerable infants and their families in Geelong for more than 10 years. Her engaging personality and 'can do' approach inspires colleagues and families alike. She is also keen to up date her skills through study and research and is currently completing a masters degree in nursing.

Lynda Campbell with the Former Minister

Dr Campbell is a senior child welfare researcher and the Head of the Children, Young Persons and Families Research Unit in the School of Social Work At the University of Melbourne. She has worked in the field within Victoria for more than 30 years and is at the forefront of child welfare research in this State. Dr Campbell research has informed policy reforms in Victoria and nationally ¿ in particular, her work on high-risk infants for the Department of Human Services was a major contribution for improvements in this service.

Christine Connors with the Former Minister

Ms Connors is a child protection team leader at DHS's Glenroy office. She has worked at DHS for 20 years and made a career decision to work as a team leader. She is leader among her colleagues ¿ both within DHS and the sector - and has trained many staff that have become team leaders themselves. Ms Connors has made a significant difference in the lives many vulnerable children and family ¿ many who still contact her after their involvement with child protection ends.

Di Noyce with the Former Minister

Ms Noyce is the Executive Director of Ballarat's Lisa Lodge that provides services for the most disadvantaged ¿ in particular youth and women. Services include the region's high-risk adolescent program and a high security women's refuge. Ms Noyce's career in child welfare began in the early 1980s, when she worked at Lisa Lodge Girls Hostel as a residential care worker. She now leads a team of about 40 staff. She is the region's chair of the Regional Youth Committee and is a key player family violence reference group.

Rob Ball with the Former Minister

Mr Ball is a facilitator and consultant for the CREATE Foundation - an organisation that advocates on behalf of children and young people in out-of-home care. He was instrumental is setting up the Foundation's "mission: be" program that aims to teach 14 to 18 year olds living in out-of-home care leadership and self development skills. This program had great success thanks to Mr Ball's ability to motivate and engage young people ¿ especially those with difficult behaviours.