In early 2021, two staff members from Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Gympie Children and Families team were nominated in the annual PeakCare Awards. They were nominated for their tireless contribution to their community.
Cultural Support Worker Russell Bennet (a Gubbi Gubbi/Waka Waka/Kullilli man) was nominated for the “Deadly Award.” While, Foster Care Practitioner Narrelle Paulsen was nominated for the “Legend Award” for her lifetime contribution to the wellbeing of Queensland children, young people, parents, and families.
Russell works with young people, families, and professionals in preventing children from entering care. He also works with children who are in care and the carers who support them.
ABOVE AND BEYOND: Anglicare Southern Queensland’s, Gympie Children & Families Foster Care Practitioner Narrelle Paulsen and Cultural Support Worker Russell Bennet were nominated in the annual PeakCare Awards.
Narrelle and Russell’s motivation
“Personally, I don’t do this job for the award or the pat on the back. I do it to help my Indigenous mob and the kids and to help the community,” he said.
“The award for me is getting these kids employed. This year I hope to continue guiding the young people into employment, training and education and to carry on the cultural education and to be as inclusive as I can.”
Russell actively connects the community through individual and group mentoring sessions with children focusing on addressing barriers, exploring cultural backgrounds, taking children back to country, grounding children in country, building self-esteem and resilience, promoting positive behaviour choices, respecting Elders and improving employment outcomes.
He also teaches Indigenous and non-Indigenous students about the local bush tucker garden as well as participating in the Men’s Shed.
Narrelle started her journey as a foster carer with her late husband. She provided quality care for many children for over 30 years. In 2009, she started providing training and support to carers in the Gympie region.
She has also drawn on her knowledge and skills to author and publish a trauma-informed children’s book called ‘The Back-to-Front-Boy’. She hopes the story will help traumatised children to celebrate their differences. Additionally, she hopes it will support carers and other children to be accommodating and supportive of traumatised children’s differences. And, finally, that it will send an overall message that stakeholders supporting traumatised children need to look past the behaviours of these children and seek to understand the individual.
About being recognised
Narrelle said she was surprised but “very grateful” to be nominated for the award.
“I had no idea, it was a big surprise,” she said.
“I’m passionate about children and families. Supporting children, carers and families – seeing the support result in reunification is the best and most important work we do. Keeping children safe is the ultimate goal.
“Our team always helps and supports each other and we’re very lucky in Gympie to have that network.”
Russell said he loves how supportive his team are of his ideas.
“It’s tremendous. I come up with an idea and I’ll put it to everyone and they all back me 100 per cent and that makes my life really easy,” he said.
“I’m very proud of my young people because I’ve produced some very good mentors. I’m proud of their achievements and where they have come from, they even have goals these days.”