After a record-breaking number of submissions this year, the winners of the 2021 Victorian Protecting Children Awards have been announced.
At an online event yesterday, outstanding individuals and teams from across the child and families services sector were recognised for their work in protecting the wellbeing of children.
“The Centre congratulates Luke Rumbold on winning the inaugural ‘Leaving a Legacy’ award at the Victorian Protecting Children Awards.
Luke Rumbold has devoted his life to the care of children and young people in rural Victoria during his 40-year career. Graduating as a Social Worker from the University of Melbourne in 1980, Luke was first employed as a Community Based Case Worker by Mallee Family Care in Kerang. In 1984, Luke moved to take up the role of Director of Upper Murray Family Care (UMFC).
With 37 years at the helm, it is rare for an individual to leave such an enduring and remarkable footprint on an organisation and its local community. As well as expanding its reach to become a cross-border organisation, UMFC also extended its services from legal and family law to disability care and child and family services.
The sector has benefitted from Luke’s involvement in serving on Boards with the state(the Centre) and federal peak (FRSA).
As Luke contemplates retirement, the child and family services sector acknowledges his lasting legacy not only on UMFC, his local community, and throughout regional Victoria.
The winners include:
| Category | Winner and highly commended |
| Robin Clark Leadership Award | Winner
Beth Allen, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Highly commended Aileen Ashford, Kids First Australia |
| Robin Clark Making a Difference Award | Winner
Staughton Road, MacKillop Family Services Highly commended HEALing Matters, Monash University |
| Minister’s Award for Innovation in Protecting Children | Winner
Caring Dads, Kids First Australia Highly commended Power to Kids: Respecting Sexual Safety, MacKillop Family Services |
| CREATE Award | Winner
Murray Geddes |
| Modelling a Generous Community Award | Winner
Morgan Cataldo, Berry Street |
| Walda Blow Award | Winner
Kristen Munro |
| Leaving a Legacy Award | Winner
Luke Rumbold |
| Carer Award | Winner
Kristine and Rick Foord, OzChild |
| Education Initiative Award | Winner
Education First Youth Foyer – Shepparton, Berry Street |
| Supporting Young People in Care Award | Winner
Bonnie O’Leary, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Highly commended Youth Services, Child and Family Services Ballarat Nicholas Varcoe and Kade Rzepecki, Berry Street |
| Chief Practitioner’s Award | Winner
Sinead Grene, Department of Families, Fairness and Housing |
Congratulations to all winners and finalists.
To view the full list of winners and highly commended recipients please visit the Victorian Protecting Children Awards website. Here you can read about each of our deserving recipients.
