Cindy Haynes has received the 2020 Bundaberg Child Protection Week Award for her contribution to keeping children in the community safe.
The purpose of the Bundaberg Child Protection Week Award is to acknowledge the significant contributions made by people, groups, organisations or businesses who work in the child and family sector in the Bundaberg Region community.
The award recognises the efforts and dedication of the nominee/s to build and strengthen the community’s awareness of child protection and making it everybody’s business during 2019-20.
Cindy has been employed by Bundaberg Child Safety Service Centre for more than 11 years and she has been instrumental in attempts to reduce over representation of Aboriginal and Torre Strait Islander children in the care system, she was presented her award at the annual Bundaberg Child Protection Week dinner at Rowers on the River on Friday night.
Bundaberg Child Protection Week Action Group member Veronica Taylor congratulated Cindy on her award saying she had been a member of CPWAG for over 10 years and had always given 100 per cent effort to ensure the success of Child Protection Week.
“She has contributed to cultural amendments within child safety and contributed to ensuring Bundaberg Indigenous community felt respected and heard by Child Safety,” Veronica said.
“Cindy was instrumental in setting up the Elders Advisory Panel to give community a voice on child safety processes, whilst working closely with Indigenous and non-indigenous agencies to achieve the best outcomes for Bundaberg’s Indigenous families.
“She has provided a supportive safe place for Indigenous staff from other agencies to discuss their worries and develop solutions.”
Veronica also said CPWAG were also greatly indebted to local artist, John Olsen, who created the perpetual award.
“He was approached in 2017 to see if he could assist in the creation of this sculpture and in the words of this very generous man – ‘child protection is the highest order of priority in this life’,” she said.
“CPWAG wishes to thank judges this year – Karen McCord, Principal Bundaberg State High School; Stephen Harris, Bundaberg Regional Gallery; and Dr Judy Williams, QH paediatrician and winner of 2019 award.”
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