Excellence in community services

Matthew Parkinson

Bendigo Baptist Community Care Inc.
California Gully, VIC 

Matthew is recognised for his transformative leadership in Bendigo. As Director of Bendigo Baptist Community Care since 2010, he developed MADCOW (Make A Difference, Change Our World), a charity and social enterprise aiding Karen refugees and fighting generational injustice and homelessness. 

With over 80 employees and 130 volunteers, MADCOW has grown significantly over the past decade. Initiatives like the Homeless Hub and Nexus Bendigo Youth Theatre demonstrate Matt's commitment to community support. 

The business model provides employment opportunities for Karen refugees, Hub provides essential services, while Nexus has influenced 57 youths in 2024, providing students from marginalised, at-risk communities with a place of support. 

Matthew’s belief in the dignity and worth of every individual drives MADCOW's mission. They serve around 30 vulnerable people daily, providing critical support to people affected by mental health issues and addictions.

Kylie Pussell

Miracle Babies Foundation
Liverpool, NSW

Kylie is recognised for her unwavering commitment to the Miracle Babies Foundation, an organisation she co-founded to support families with premature or sick newborns. Her personal journey through miscarriages, the loss of her son, and the early delivery of her children have fuelled her 19-year-long commitment to enhancing the lives of these at-risk infants and their loved ones.

As CEO, Kylie has been pivotal in growing the foundation, advocating for better parental mental health support, and pushing for extended paid parental leave, all to ensure comprehensive care for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) and Special Care Nurseries (SCN) families. 

Miracle Babies Foundation has become a beacon of hope and support, distributing over 9,000 support packs annually and embedding its services in 65 hospitals nationwide, making it a standard in neonatal care. 

Kylie’s efforts have provided comfort and education and forged a national community for 'miracle families' to connect and support each other.

Jessica Staines

Koori Curriculum
Wyoming, NSW.   

Jessica is a proud Wiradjuri woman and early childhood educator recognised for her dedication to integrating Aboriginal perspectives into early childhood education. As the founder of the Koori Curriculum, she offers resources, workshops, and professional development to educators, aiming to build cultural capacity and foster connections with Indigenous communities. 

Established in 2013, her consultancy addresses educators' hesitations in teaching First Nations history and culture by boosting their confidence and cultural understanding.

Jessica's initiatives extend to a membership program, the Koori Curriculum Club, with over 1,000 educators, and free resources like a Facebook group and the Educator Yarns podcast. She's also an advisor for ABC's Playschool and has contributed to early childhood publications.

With a focus on inclusivity and accessibility, Jessica’s impact is evident in the growing confidence of educators and the broader acceptance and celebration of First Nations culture in Australian society.

Building Resilience via Advocacy, Counselling & Education (BRACE)

Odyssey House Victoria
Richmond, VIC

BRACE is recognised for embedding Youth alcohol and other drugs (AOD) and Mental Health Clinicians high needs secondary schools in northwest metropolitan Melbourne, supporting 1,500 young people with tailored counselling, outreach, and education to mitigate substance misuse and its consequences. 

Operating across seven schools and eight campuses, BRACE provides onsite support, collaborates with school staff, and offers extended outreach during non-school hours. 

Part of Odyssey House Victoria, BRACE ensures specialist access for diverse communities. It adopts a whole-of-school approach to enhance collective AOD issue management.

BRACE's proactive and nonjudgmental strategy instils confidence. It focuses on early intervention and complements existing school well-being resources. It provides staff training and engages students through various activities, including camps, to foster new friendships and provide respite from challenging family circumstances.

Overall, BRACE has successfully improved students' understanding of AOD-related issues and reduced risky behaviours, with participants reporting high satisfaction (96 per cent).

Little Dreamers

South Melbourne, VIC

Little Dreamers is recognised for its passionate support and advocacy for Young Carers in Australia, enhancing their lives through direct aid, advocacy, and systemic change. 

The team’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassion has established them as a leader in addressing the needs of Young Carers. Having supported over 6,000 Young Carers and delivering over 14,500 hours of support annually through respite, education, and peer support, Little Dreamers has made a significant impact. 

Their programs, such as the Big Dreamers Program, have shown positive outcomes, with 90% of participants reporting increased feelings of social connection and improved mental health awareness. Educational workshops have also been effective, with 85% of participating teachers noting better understanding and management of Young Carer’s responsibilities, leading to improved academic performance and reduced school absenteeism.

Parkinson’s Nurse Specialist Team

Parkinson’s Western Australia
Perth, WA

The Parkinson's Western Australia (WA) Parkinson's Nurse Specialist Team is recognised for their vital role in supporting over 3,000 patients and their families, significantly improving symptom management and quality of life.

As they approach their 25th year of service, the team is known for its outstanding care in the community and is greatly respected by neurologists and General Practitioners (GPs).

Their commitment to mastering the disease's progression ensures targeted care, enhancing symptom control. Their care model focuses on preventing unnecessary hospital stays by improving local service coordination and GP communication. A survey conducted by Parkinson’s WA found that 79 per cent of participants agree that having access to the service has reduced the need to attend hospital. 

The team would like to utilise professional development opportunities in the future.