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Children’s Week Awards

Children's Week Awards

The Children’s Week Awards Program aims to celebrate and honour the incredible individuals and organisations who promote and advocate for children’s rights and wellbeing in Queensland.  Our goal is to champion the people whose contributions, initiatives and advocacy are creating a positive and lasting impact in the lives of children and young people in our community.  By honouring those who are actively engaged in this vital work, we seek to shine a spotlight on their efforts, celebrate their achievements, and inspire others to join the cause. 

Award winners will be announced on Tuesday, 22 October 2024 at the Children’s Week Launch and Awards celebration.

Queensland Children’s Week Awards 2024 is proudly supported by:

Principal Commissioner's Award for Community Engagement

The Principal Commissioner’s Award for Community Engagement will honour an individual for their achievements and effort in engaging members of the community, businesses and/or organisations in child rights-related activities and initiatives.

Finalists:

Majella Ritchie: Majella has been a passionate advocate for the cultural rights of young people in detention, particularly First Nations children in the justice system. Leading multiple cultural initiatives, she has ensured that First Nations children have access to cultural support during their incarceration. Majella has collaborated with over 12 different organisations, ensuring that children’s cultural rights are met and contributing to their successful rehabilitation and reintegration into their communities.

Areta Farrance: Areta runs free nature play programs in Logan, engaging over 700 families through Bush Kindy activities. Her work transforms outdoor spaces into inclusive environments where children of all abilities can explore, play, and learn. By promoting children’s right to play, Areta strengthens community ties and ensures nature-based learning is accessible to all.

Alexis and Tyler Kalofonos: Alexis, who has cerebral palsy, and her brother Tyler, created a school friendship club and a pen pal group to help children connect and form friendships. Alexis educates others about disabilities, while Tyler advocates for inclusion in sports. Together, they’ve inspired their school to embrace disability inclusion, organized a toy drive, and are co-authoring a book to raise awareness about disabilities.

Creative Outpost Children's Rights Education Award

The Children’s Rights Education Award will recognise an individual or organisation with a demonstrated commitment and contribution to educating children and the community about children’s rights, as per the UNCRC.

Finalists:

Aunty Sharron Mirii Bell: A proud Wiradjuri Gamilaraay woman and founder of Indigenous Insights. Since 2005, Sharron has been a dedicated advocate for children’s rights and cultural education, using workshops and concerts, to empower children with pride in their heritage and self-expression. She has also featured on Play School’s Showtime series and developed the child rights song ‘I Am me’.

The CREATE Foundation: which represents young people in out-of-home care. Their Speak Up program in Queensland educates participants aged 14-25 about their rights and gives them the confidence to advocate for change. CREATE has reached youth in various settings, from parks to foster homes, creating lasting impact, empowering young people to shape their futures and advocate for their needs.

Jenae Tien: founder of Expand Your Library. Jenae curates diverse books and resources to spark conversations about inclusion and diversity. Her work, including as a cultural consultant for Play School, helps children feel seen and valued. Her latest project, Allies and Friends, is an inclusive resource for ABC Kids Education focused on cultural diversity and allyship, launching in March 2025.

PeakCare Young Change Maker Award

The Young Change Maker Award will honour a young person or group of young people for their outstanding contribution and commitment to enhancing Queensland children’s rights and wellbeing through community education, awareness raising and/or advocacy.

Finalists:

Caroline Fletcher: Caroline, drawing from her lived experience in out-of-home care, has been a strong advocate for children’s rights. She has worked on the Home Stretch campaign and collaborated with QNQDA and the Queensland Mental Health Commission. Recently, she delivered a powerful speech at the QFFC Youth Summit, inspiring others with her message. Caroline embodies the change she wants to see in the child protection system, ensuring that the voices of children are heard.

Teneal Monssen: Teneal known as Nelly is a young consultant with the CREATE Foundation. Nelly has been advocating for the rights of young people in out-of-home care, focusing on health, wellbeing, and participation in decision-making. Her leadership has been evident in projects like the Queensland Residential Care Review and the Mercy Younger People Advisory Group.

Joomunjie Warriors: The Joomunjie Warriors are a group of student leaders from Eagleby South State School who created Joomunjie Land, a Loose Parts Adventure Playground that serves over 400 children. Their project, led by student leaders is supported by local organisations and won a National Playground Design Award in 2024 for fostering inclusion and belonging. Through their advocacy and ownership of the space, these young leaders have built an inclusive environment where children’s voices are heard and respected.

Children's Rights Champion of the Year

The Children’s Rights Champion of the Year award will recognise the inspirational achievement and effort undertaken by an individual, group or organisation in a way that aligns with the theme of Children’s Week. In 2024 the theme of Children’s Week is based on Article 24 of the UNCRC – Children have the right to healthy food, clean water, a safe environment and the best health care possible.

Finalists:

Anna Sorokina: Anna is an 11-year-old who has championed environmental sustainability at her school, delivering sessions on rubbish separation and reducing waste. Inspired by a visit to an environment center, she engages young Queenslanders through activities like trash sorting relay races and sustainability scavenger hunts, fostering environmental responsibility.

Care Kits for Kids Queensland: A volunteer-driven initiative that has provided over 11,700 care kits to vulnerable children since 2018. These kits, filled with essentials like clothing and toiletries, as well as toys bring comfort to children in crisis including those facing domestic violence or homelessness. With over 100 volunteers and operating solely on donations and grants, the group expects to support 4,000 children in 2024.

Madison Pease: An educator at C&K Moranbah Kindergarten, Madison empowered her students to advocate for a safer playground during local construction, with the children presenting their ideas to the Isaac Regional Council, including the Mayor. Madison elevated the children’s voices, and the project not only improved the play space but also taught them the importance of civic engagement and environmental responsibility.

PeakCare Young Change Maker Award

The Young Change Maker Award will honour a young person or group of young people for their outstanding contribution and commitment to enhancing Queensland children’s rights and wellbeing through community education, awareness raising and/or advocacy.

The purpose of this award is to champion and encourage the participation of young people in initiatives that benefit their peers and the community in relation to children’s rights and well-being as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). The recipient(s) of this award may have contributed to or be in the process of contributing to initiatives centred upon children’s rights and wellbeing, including (but not limited to):

  • various types of community programs
  • education
  • advocacy
  • policy influence or development
  • events and celebrations
  • promotional activities
  • fundraising and awareness campaigns
Selection Criteria:

  •  

  • Demonstrated contribution to initiatives that champion children’s rights and wellbeing in Queensland
  • Seeks to involve their peers and other community members or leaders in raising awareness about children’s rights and wellbeing
  • Advocates for the voices of children and young people to be heard in various sectors within the community

Eligibility: 

  • Nominee(s) must reside in Queensland 
  • Nominee(s) must be aged between 8 – 25 years

Principal Commissioner's Award for Community Engagement

The Principal Commissioner’s Award for Community Engagement will honour an individual for their achievements and effort in engaging members of the community, businesses and/or organisations in child rights-related activities and initiatives.

This award category represents CRQ’s commitment to engaging communities, organisations, young people and First Nations Peoples concerned with children’s rights and wellbeing. Through this award, we aim to encourage collective action and emphasise the importance of relationships and shared goals for achieving widespread education and awareness of Children’s Rights as per the UNCRC.   

Selection Criteria  

  • Impact and Reach – evidence of the scale and scope of the nominee’s efforts in engaging an array of stakeholders to advance the education, promotion and realisation of children’s rights and wellbeing in Queensland. 
  • Demonstrated capacity to interact effectively with individuals across various levels within the community, including primary stakeholders, tertiary institutions, government bodies, non-profit organisations, and others. 
  • A demonstrated focus on marginalised and at-risk children and families within the community will be highly regarded. 

Eligibility: 

  • Nominee must reside in Queensland 
  • Nominee’s contribution must benefit children in Queensland

Children's Rights Champion of the Year

The Children’s Rights Champion of the Year award will recognise the inspirational achievement and effort undertaken by an individual, group or organisation in a way that aligns with the theme of Children’s Week. In 2024 the theme of Children’s Week is based on Article 24 of the UNCRC – Children have the right to healthy food, clean water, a safe environment and the best health care possible.

In 2024, this award will honour an individual or organisation who is making a vital contribution to improving the wellbeing of children and safeguarding their right as outlined in Article 24. A clean and safe environment for children encompasses clean and safe living conditions and access to healthcare and other essential services and resources. These elements are essential for a child’s physical and mental health and wellbeing. 

Selection Criteria  

  • Impact and Reach – evidence of the scale and scope of the nominee’s efforts in promoting clean and safe living conditions for children, as outlined in Article 24 of the UNCRC. This may include the number of children or families who have been reached and the extent of the improvement in their living environments, safety, nutrition or healthcare. 
  • Innovative approaches and creative solutions employed by the nominee to address environmental and societal challenges to ensuring clean and safe living conditions for children in Queensland. 
  • Evidence of community engagement and participation in the initiatives undertaken by the nominee, including the involvement of children, parents or local authorities, and other stakeholders in decision-making processes related to a clean and safe living environment. 

Eligibility:

  • Nominee is based in Queensland
  • Nominees may be an individual, group of people or an organisation

Principal Commissioner's Award for Community Engagement

The Principal Commissioner’s Award for Community Engagement will honour an individual for their achievements and effort in engaging members of the community, businesses and/or organisations in child rights-related activities and initiatives.

This award category represents CRQ’s commitment to engaging communities, organisations, young people and First Nations Peoples concerned with children’s rights and wellbeing. Through this award, we aim to encourage collective action and emphasise the importance of relationships and shared goals for achieving widespread education and awareness of Children’s Rights as per the UNCRC.   

Selection Criteria  

  • Impact and Reach – evidence of the scale and scope of the nominee’s efforts in engaging an array of stakeholders to advance the education, promotion and realisation of children’s rights and wellbeing in Queensland. 
  • Demonstrated capacity to interact effectively with individuals across various levels within the community, including primary stakeholders, tertiary institutions, government bodies, non-profit organisations, and others. 
  • A demonstrated focus on marginalised and at-risk children and families within the community will be highly regarded. 

Eligibility: 

  • Nominee must reside in Queensland 
  • Nominee’s contribution must benefit children in Queensland

Children's Rights Education Award

The Children’s Rights Education Award will recognise an individual or organisation with a demonstrated commitment and contribution to educating children and the community about children’s rights, as per the UNCRC.

The Children’s Rights Education Award will recognise an individual or organisation with a demonstrated commitment and contribution to educating children and the community about children’s rights, as per the UNCRC.

The recipient of this award will demonstrate commitment and achievement in embedding children’s rights within the education framework, as well as promoting widespread community education on children’s rights. Nominees may be from an array of organisations and education providers, ranging from early education to high school education, university, co-curricular providers, and specialist education providers.

Selection criteria:

  • Demonstrated commitment to children’s rights
  • Evidence of the integration of children’s rights into curriculum and/or educational resources
  • Demonstrates an innovative approach to teach and engage children and/or adults about children’s rights
  • Impact and Reach – evidence of the scale and scope of the nominee’s efforts in educating people about children’s rights.

Eligibility:

  • Nominee is based in Queensland
  • Nominee delivers programs to children and/or adults in Queensland

FAQs

You are able to nominate yourself or your organisation.

Children’s Rights Queensland will appoint a judging panel to assess nominations and select award winners.

The amount of detail and supporting evidence you provide in your nomination will assist the judging panel.

If your application is successful, you will be contacted when the finalists are announced.

Prizes will be given to award winners along with a trophy.

Finalists will be contacted in early September. If you nominate a finalist you will be contacted.

The Children’s Week National Theme for 2024 is based on UNCRC Article 24: Children have the right to a clean and safe environment.

The Children’s Week Awards will be announced on Tuesday, 22 October 2024 at Victoria Park Golf Course in Brisbane. Finalists will be invited to attend the event which will be attended by representatives from Government, non-profit organisations, families and children.

Nominations will close on Sunday, 1 September 2024 at 11:59pm.

Click here to view the Award Terms and Conditions.

The Awards and Finalists for 2023

Youth Champion Award

Outstanding contribution and commitment to the promotion and advocacy of children’s rights in Queensland by a young person or group of young people.

Finalists:

Children in Action Group – 9-13 years olds

Alexis and Tyler Kalofonos  – 9 years old

Mich Liao – 17 years old

QFCC Commissioner’s Award for Community Engagement

Exceptional achievements and effort in engaging members of the community, businesses and/or organisations in child rights related activities and initiatives.

Finalists:

Scott Ballantyne
Queensland Police Service

Hyahno Moser
Australian Institute of Play

Majella Ritchie

Sandy Willick
C&K Moorooka Community Kindergarten

Child Rights Champion Award

Inspirational achievement and effort undertaken by an individual, group or organisation in a way that aligns with the theme of Children’s Week.

Finalists:

Australian Institute of Play

PCYC Queensland OSHC

Play Matters Australia

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