Congratulations to the Winners of the Annual YOGIE Awards 2019

Winners 2019

2019

YWCA Canberra Youth Programs Sexuality and Gender Alliance Calwell High School

Across Term 1 and 2, 2019 the YWCA Canberra Youth Engagement Team worked with Calwell High School to develop a weekly LGBTQIA psychosocial group within the school. The school and the ACT Health School Nurse identified and encouraged several young people to be part of the group. YWCA Canberra worked with the young people to develop the foundations of the

2019

Party Down Productions The Woden School

Party Down Productions (PDP) is based at The Woden School (TWS) and is run by young people with disability aged 12 -18 years. PDP is the brain-child of TWS Youth Support Worker, Luke Ferguson, and was developed as a school-wide approach to using music and dance to build personal confidence, celebrate diversity and promote social inclusion of people with disability

2019

Girls Empowered Together program Woden Community Service

The GET program is an early intervention program which aims to help young women build positive self-esteem and self-image, foster resilience, improve emotional and physical wellbeing, maintain positive relationships, and increase the capacity for vulnerable young females to be safe and independent. This was done through providing education on topics surrounding health and wellbeing as well as service visits to

2019

Family Support Program Conflict Resolution Service

Every night, around 116,000 Australians sleep without a roof over their head, with ACT reporting the second-highest rate of homelessness in the country in recent years (ABS, 2016; AIHW, 2013). This is a long-standing issue, with ABS reporting a 4.6% rate of increased homelessness over recent years; giving particular light to homeless youths (aged 12-24), making up a substantial 25%

2019

Geoffrey Sima YMCA Canberra Youth Space

Geoff is new to the youth sector and in particular working in a drop-in centre environment. Geoff has been a youth worker with YMCA Canberra since February 2019. Since then, Geoff has taken to time to develop his skills, through mentoring with his coordinator, and by asking questions, doing research and taking the time to talk to young people. Geoff

2019

Tara McClelland – Oasis Youth Services

Tara began casual work in the ACT Youth Sector in November 2017, then took up a full time role after graduating in June 2018. Since then Tara has demonstrated her commitment to young people, and her own individual learning, professional development and self-improvement in many ways. While being a full time Youth Worker at Oasis Youth Services, working shift work

2019

Outstanding Contribution to Young People Award

Janine has been involved in the industry for over 5 years, both studying and in the workforce. Janine brings a lifetime of knowledge to her important role at CRS, mediating in the community, as well as public and private sectors. Janine’s efforts and passion for transforming the lives of young Canberrans and their families have recently further increased, as an

2019

Cindylee Young Woden Community Service

Cindylee embodies and demonstrates the characteristic qualities of an Outstanding Youth Worker. Cindylee demonstrates time and time again of her passion and commitment to young people through the many school groups she has facilitated whereby she teaches the importance of self-care and respect to countless young women, meanwhile building incredible rapport with both teachers, youth workers and department heads throughout

2019

Zakia Patel YMCA Youth Space

Zakia has created a thriving Youth Space (opened 28 Feb), with more than 900 visits to date (only open on two days per week), from a diverse mix of young people. She has also established an effective Case Management Practice. Zakia set out to develop a culture that supports safety, self-expression, inclusion, accountability, and opportunity. This approach facilitates youth work

2019

Ciara Duggan YWCA

Ciara continually strives to see the best in every situation, they are silver lining royalty! If only 3 young people turn up to a program or event, Ciara will find the success for those young people and see it as an opportunity for the program to change and practices grow. Ciara does not seek the spotlight, it finds to them

2019

Anet Marinov – The Junction

Anet has been working in the sector for 26 years, yet remains humble, passionate and empathetic in her work. Anet’s passion for supporting young people has taken her through jobs with Bernardo’s, Canteen, Northside, Our Place, and The Junction, working with young people in homelessness, case work, health and health education. Anet has been in the game long enough to

2019

Gugan Gulwan Youth Aboriginal Corporation

Gugan Gulwan is an Aboriginal youth centre located in the ACT suburb of Wanniassa. It works with its clients through a range of programs that go well beyond the services provided by most youth centres. They include a Drug and Alcohol/Mental Health program, a Child, Youth, Family Support Program, and a Reconnect Program to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait

2018

Hayden Page

Hayden Page is the Team Leader of the Youth Engagement Team based at Woden Youth Centre. He is a welcoming personality to every young person who accesses the YET programs, in particular the Drop In space. Hayden is very engaging and inclusive with any activity he is undertaking in the Youth Centre – from basketball or pool to supporting a

2018

Ben Shippard

Ben Shippard is a volunteer with headspace Canberra. He has been on the headspace Youth Reference Group for the last four years, and volunteers 2-3 hours each week. Ben is a very passionate advocate for Mental Health, and more importantly, for reducing the stigma that surrounds Mental Health. He has presented at the headspace National forum in Melbourne on behalf

2018

Jessica Cristallo

Jessica Cristallo is a youth worker and support worker at Canberra PCYC. She was training to be a teacher, then entered the youth sector after realising that social and emotional wellbeing for young people is paramount to their long term success. She has trained as a youth worker, and uses this combination of skills and experience to genuinely connect with

2018

Joshua White

Joshua White is a youth worker at Kingsford Smith School, and for Josh, the students at his school always come first. He approaches students with calmness, understanding and empathy. Regardless of the situation or what else he has to do, his students know that when he is speaking with them, they are his main priority. Josh excels at building rapport

2018

Adam Shirley & Ainslie Macgibbon

Adam Shirley is the ‘Mornings’ presenter on ABC Radio Canberra, and Ainslie Macgibbon is a journalist and part of the production team for ‘Mornings with Adam Shirley’. Together, they have demonstrated skilled and considered engagement with young people, and about issues affecting young people. Adam and his team have provided thoughtful coverage on issues affecting young people over a number

2018

Susan Pellegrino

Susan Pellegrino has been involved in the youth sector over a number of years, and is a long term supporter and collaborator of the work of the Youth Coalition. As part of her role with the CREATE Foundation, Susan supports young people who wish to be advocates on Out of Home Care issues. She has worked closely with the Youth

2018

Bryan Duke

Bryan Duke began working in the homelessness sector in the mid 1990’s, running a soup kitchen in the old Griffin Centre, and in the youth sector in 2001. He currently runs the Take Hold program with Ted Noffs foundation, which he established in Canberra in 2012. Bryan builds a strong rapport with young people and never gives up on trying

2018

Belconnen Community Service Youth Engagement

Belconnen Community Service Youth Engagement has a history of effectively involving young people in their service design. 2018 has seen this become more integrated and involved, with leadership and input from young people actively shaping the service. BCS Youth Engagement runs quarterly consultations at its youth centre, which are integral to the planning of events, supports, activities and the general

2018

YWCA Canberra Clubhouse & ACT Parks and Conservation Service

‘What’s Your Reality: A Journey Through Virtual Worlds’ is a free program delivered by YWCA Canberra Clubhouse & ACT Parks and Conservation Service. The mission is to harness the power of virtual reality (VR) to make Canberra’s natural parks and reserves accessible to all. The Clubhouse has engaged ten students in year nine at Calwell High School to deliver this

2018

PCYC Adventure Program

The Canberra PCYC Adventure program is an early intervention program for vulnerable young people who are disengaged from education, engaged in anti-social behaviour, and are highly at-risk of contact with the justice system. The 20-week program includes daily sessions addressing social and emotional wellbeing, life skills training, social skills training, goal making, followed by the “sick as” tailored PCYC adventure

2018

Mari Benson

Mari Benson is a Youth Worker at Barnardos ACT Together. She has been working in Out of Home Care for the last 5 years, but it is her role as a mother that gives her the drive and tenacity to manage the high and complex needs of the young people she supports who are in placement. As a Youth Worker

2018

James Small

James Small is a Youth Support Worker at Belconnen Community Service. Despite being new to the sector, James is a man in demand; with his unique combination of skills and amiable personality, young people and workers alike are eager to engage with him. As a street artist, musician, sports fiend and all around great guy, James uses his skills and

2018

Trevor Preston

Trevor Preston is a youth support officer at Lyneham High School, and is a qualified youth worker and librarian. He is committed to the development of young people, and improving life outcomes through lifelong learning. His commitment to young people is evident through his history of supporting young people, first through working with young people who were experiencing homelessness or

LGBTQIA* & Allies Prom 2017, YWCA Canberra

The YWCA’s LGBTQIA* and Allies Prom commenced in 2016 in response to a call from young people for more social events for gender and sexually diverse young people in Canberra. This annual event provides a fantastic occasion for young LGBTQIA+ people and/or allies, aged between 12 and 25 years, to celebrate and express their identities, in a non-judgemental environment. This

Research To Practice Series, Institute of Child Protection Studies

The Research to Practice Series has been published since 2013, with 18 issues published and freely available to anyone who wishes to access them. The Institute of Child Protection Studies conducts research and evaluation on a broad range of topics. The Research to Practice Series translates this research into information that is easily understandable by practitioners from a range of

Intensive Diversion Program (IDP), Canberra PCYC

The Intensive Diversion Program (IDP) works with young people aged 12-16 years who are at high risk of offending behaviour, and are engaged with either Child & Youth Protection Services, ACT Policing, or ACT Children’s Court. The program combines a mix of skills-based recreational activities, educational programming and/or vocational pathways, intensive case coordination between Canberra PCYC, ACT Policing & CYPS,

360 Initiative – Non-Binary Clothing Line, YWCA Canberra

In 2017, the 360 initiative launched its non-binary clothing line. The idea arose as young people in the YWCA Canberra A-Z Group identified that a common barrier for young people who are gender queer, gender fluid, transqueer or transgender was the limited availability of gender neutral clothing. The young people participating in the project committed to an 8-week program that

Richie Unga, St John’s YouthCare Canberra

Richie Unga is a Youth Outreach Worker at St John’s YouthCare Canberra. He has worked in the community sector for 8 years, having previously worked with PCYC and doing residential youth work. In his current role, Richie is recognised as being able to work with young people in a flexible and responsive way, centred around their needs. Richie works hard

Jeremy Leala, Woden Community Service

Jeremy is considered by his peers to be truly spectacular youth worker and all around nice guy, who does all within his power to help anyone and everyone. As a youth engagement officer in the Woden Youth Engagement Team, he is proactive in creating programs and avenues for all young people to support their interests and involvement in the wider

Rhonda Foley, Girl Guides Australia

Rhonda, or Kanga as she is known to Girl Guides across the ACT/NSW, is a fantastic role model to the girls and young women she has so enthusiastically led. Currently, she is a Leader to young girls as well as holding the role of Learning and Development on the Region Team. Rhonda is dedicated, welcoming, and youth oriented; it is

Daniel Gaffney, Belconnen Community Service

As the Leader of Youth Engagement Team at Belconnen Community Service, Daniel has showed a relentless dedication to the young people that engage in the program. In addition to his 18 months with BCS, Daniel has a long history in the youth sector having previously worked at PCYC, Narrabundah College and in church youth programs. He cites these past positions

Olivia Hatfield, Anglicare

Liv started with Anglicare in March 2017 working as a Youth Worker in two programs, The Junction Youth Health Service and Y-Engage. As a Youth Worker, Liv has hit the ground running facilitating Health Support Groups in schools, and supporting young people emotionally and practically with information to help them in their decision making processes. Liv has professionally, respectfully and

Umair Qureshi, Anglicare

The Anglicare Youth Engagement Program (YEP) provides an alternative education support model for young people aged 14-19 years of age who have become disengaged from mainstream education. Umair is one of the senior case managers facilitating the program, who assists in the provision of a range of services to young people, aimed at helping them re-engage with mainstream education, pursue

Fox Fromholtz, headspace Canberra

Fox has been a volunteer for the headspace Canberra Youth Reference Group for the last 3 years. During this time Fox has been an advocate for Mental Health and has represented headspace at numerous events, schools and agencies. Fox is a very passionate advocate for LGBTQIA* young people. Fox has been setting up the Youth Ambassadors Program, a peer led

Fiona MacGregor, Belconnen Community Service

Fiona MacGregor has been a powerhouse of the community sector for many years, having a crucial role in the development of the current service system for young people, including the CYFSP, and youth workers in schools program. Fiona is currently working as a consultant for the ACT Community Sector, one stop in a long career of influence. Throughout her career,

Families ACT

Families ACT are the peak body which aims to represent the interests of children, young people and families and the continuum of services which support them, in the ACT and surrounding region. Families ACT takes a broad view of what constitutes a family, and strives to improve the wellbeing of all families in the ACT and surrounding region. The Youth

The YOGIES

The YOGIES

YOGIES HONOUR ROLL

Winners 2019

The Annual YOGIE Awards are an opportunity to acknowledge and give back to those who contribute so much to young people in the ACT and surrounding regions.

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