Award Winners - 2007

Recipients of the 2007 Robin Clark Memorial Awards were announced on 4 September 2007. The Hon Lisa Neville, MP, Minister for Community Services, presented the Awards at a sector wide event at Federation Square.

Robin's Awards recognise exceptional contributions which improve the lives of vulnerable children and families in Victoria.

Inspirational Leadership in the Field

Winners: Paul Linossier, CEO, MacKillop Family Services and Mick Naughton, Manager, Family Services, Children, Youth and Families, DHS.

Profile of Recipients:

Winners: Inspirational Leadership in the Field

Paul Linossier

As CEO, Paul has overseen a complex change management process resulting in a distinctive identity for MacKillop that honours the values and traditions of the founding organisations. Paul takes a leadership role in several influential groups, including the Victorian Council of Social Service Board and the Centre of Excellence in Child and Family Welfare. As such he has been instrumental in shaping a strong, sustainable community services sector in Victoria. Paul is regarded as a thoughtful and visionary leader, who is generous in his contribution to a sector focused on excellence.

Mick Naughton

Mick has been the architect of major reform in Victoria's child and family services sector. Over the past five years he has driven several groundbreaking improvements focused on early intervention.

Mick's leadership culminated in 2007 in a number of achievements including: the establishment of the first Child and Family Information, Support and Referral Teams (Child FIRST); development of a strategic framework for family services and; development of a best interests case practice model. Through Mick's flexibility, patience and resolve, Victoria has realised a level of systemic reform that will continue to benefit vulnerable children for years to come.

Winners: Making a Difference with Children, Young People and Families

Lisa Abbott

As a senior Youth Justice case manager at Southern Metropolitan Region, Lisa provides exceptional, client focused case management to young people on Youth Justice orders.

Lisa also is a member of the Delivery Team for CREATE, which provides support services to high risk young people residing in care. A significant part of this work happens outside of normal hours. Lisa fosters collaboration between Child Protection, Youth Justice and community agencies to reduce the risks of young people reoffending and to maximise their community integration. She is innovative and actively encourages clients to take responsibility for themselves and to make positive life choices.

Joy Stewart

For 20 years Joy has served the Victorian Youth Justice system, primarily working with young female offenders aged from 12 to 21 years. For the last 13 years Joy has managed the Cullity Unit at Parkville Youth Residential Centre.

The Centre is the sole accommodation in Victoria for young woman who have been sentenced to youth residential or training centre orders. These are some of the State's most vulnerable and challenging young women. Joy continues to directly case manage residents in the Cullity Unit and has a profound capacity to make a positive difference for them. Joy understands the contemporary issues confronting the young women, however tempers her advice with 'old school' values and wisdom. She has a remarkable influence on the lives on these young women, both while they are residents and often long after.

Highly Commended: Making a Difference with Children, Young People and Families

Walda Blow

From left to right - Walda Blow, Minister Lisa Neville and, Max Clark (Robin Clark's brother) Aunty Walda has managed the Margaret Tucker Hostel for over 15 years.

The Hostel is home to one of Victoria's most vulnerable groups - young Aboriginal women aged 15 to 20 years. Some of the women bring babies and many arrive suffering grief and trauma arising from family violence and/or sexual abuse. Aunty Walda engages them, treats them with respect and trust, and supports them to achieve great outcomes.