Highly Commended

2018

Outstanding New Talent Award

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 interests to enthuse and encourage young people to develop their own skills. He has a strong commitment to strengths-based practice which is evident in the way he wholeheartedly empowers young people to discover and develop their abilities.

James has grown immensely as a youth work practitioner, receiving positive feedback from schools, colleagues, and young people for the work he does wherever he goes. He has a natural drive to do the best work that he can do, so is always asking questions and reflecting on ways we can improve our services to all young people.

James is teachable, willing, and particularly interested in supporting and advocating for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, playing a role in facilitating multiple Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth groups and projects. James is constantly striving for best practice, evolving and expanding his knowledge to work successfully with any and all young people, openly identifying his own knowledge gaps and going out of his way to make sure he fills them. James is driven, passionate and an asset to the youth and community sector.