Child Protection Week Putting Children First
Lalania Tusa recognised with prestigious award
ONE of our staff members, Lalania Tusa has been recognised with a prestigious award during Child Protection Week.
Lalania is a Kuku Yalanji woman from Mossman, Far North Queensland and has been a Cultural Support Worker in the Children’s and Families Gold Coast Team, in Nerang since last year.
“I am truly blessed to be receiving this award and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my amazing family, the staff and work colleagues within the Gold Coast office and of course the extended community on the Gold Coast,” she said.
“Through collaboration with stakeholders, both government and non government and community members, I have been able to expand the work that I do and make a difference in the lives of children living in care.
Lalania Tusa of Anglicare Southern Queensland was awarded the Professional Non-Government) Award during Child Protection Week.
“Thank you for this award once again and I’ll be dedicating it to the children in care who hold a special place in my heart and at the forefront of why I wake up every morning and do what I do.”
Lalania was presented with the Professional (Non Government Award) for her work with children in care at an awards ceremony held at the Parliament House on Thursday September 3.
The award recognises the outstanding contribution to promoting child protection issues in their capacity as a professional working in the child protection (or related) field.
Lalania spoke to Anglican Focus in June this year about her many projects she has been involved in since taking up the realms at the end of last year.
“A few of the projects that I have implemented and been working on recently are the continuation of the Jarjums Connect Group for our children in care that I developed to share and learn about First Nations cultures through culturally appropriate activities, including language, song, dance, art, medicinal plant uses, cooking, hunting, gathering, storytelling and more,” Lalania told Anglican Focus.
“The implementation of a cultural library based in the Nerang office, creation of ‘cultural bags’ for new carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children; implementation of ‘culture time’ at team meetings that introduces our staff to a different topic each week based around Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and, the design and layout of the cultural wall that is located in the Nerang Anglicare office.”
Olivene Yasso and Lalania Tusa pictured on Thursday September 3.
Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women Di Farmer said she would like to congratulate all the award winners.
“Over the last three decades, we’ve also seen a tremendous shift in community attitudes to the safety of young Queenslanders,” she said.
“Where previously it was hidden behind closed doors, child safety and the protection of children is now everybody’s business. During Child Protection week we all have a role in Putting Children First and reflecting on what we can do as individuals to ensure young Queenslanders are safe, loved and cared for.
“Making child safety everybody’s business has never been more important as it is right now with COVID-19 creating a perfect storm for so many vulnerable families.”
Ms Farmer said Child Protection Week was also an opportunity to recognise those who work tirelessly to make a difference in a child’s life.
“Child protection workers are confronted with difficult and challenging situations every day,” Ms Farmer said.
“Congratulations to the workers on the frontline who were recognised on 3 September at the annual awards ceremony for their dedication, care and commitment.
Child Protection Week runs from September 6 until September 12.
You can watch the Child Protection Week video here:
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