Outstanding staff and teams recognised at Berry Street Annual Staff Awards

On Wednesday, 29 March, 535 staff came together at Berry Street’s Annual Staff Awards to reconnect with each other and celebrate the work we do.

A record number of 123 award nominations were received, recognising our people and teams Victoria-wide for their outstanding contribution at Berry Street this past year.

Congratulations to all finalists and our four Annual Staff Award winners:

• Early Career Award: Georgia Marciano – Take Two, Mallee
• Marg McGillian – Residential Care Award: Belinda Callea – Western Region
• Working Together Team Award: Princes Highway Residential Care Home + Intensive Case Management Service + Therapeutic Specialist – South East Victoria Region
• Deb Kearsey Outstanding Staff member award: Allen Jeffress – Restoring Childhood, Northern Region

About the Berry Street Awards

Berry Street staff were nominated by their peers for the four award categories:

• Early Career Award: Recognises a newcomer to Berry Street who has made a significant contribution over a short period of time in their employment.
• Marg McGillian Residential Care Award: Named in honour of the late Marg McGillian, this award recognises a staff member who has provided exceptional service in our residential care programs.
• Working Together Team Award: This inaugural award recognises a team who have demonstrated exceptional service delivery to either internal or external service users.
• Deb Kearsey Outstanding Staff Award: Recognises a staff member who has provided exceptional service to Berry Street and/or to the children, young people and families with whom we work.

Winners were selected by the Executive Leadership Team, based on the nominee's ability to:

• demonstrate and live the Berry Street values of courage, integrity, respect, accountability and working together
• be admired by their colleagues for their commitment to the children and young people with whom they work.
• demonstrate a commitment to learning and development and always looking for ways to do things better.

Early Career Award

Finalists: Samantha Deveney – South East Victoria Region and Chantelle Oliver – Northern Region

Winner: Georgia Marciano – Take Two, Mallee

Georgia joined Take Two Mildura team – our state-wide specialist therapeutic service – following her social work placement with us which transitioned into a graduate position (12 months) and more recently a clinician role.

“The (Take Two) placement allowed me to immerse myself in a world of practice that I was so unfamiliar with, but instantly loved. I think the way in which the Take Two program works and the ability for clinicians to really connect with and have such a relational approach to their work really motivated me to join Berry Street,” said Georgia.

Georgia approaches all aspects in her work with families with a high level of respect, understanding and curiosity. She has shown to be a strong advocate for families, whilst always maintaining compassion and professionalism. Georgia has consistently sought opportunities to develop her knowledge and skillset for the greater benefit of, our community and the families she comes in touch with.

Marg McGillian – Residential Care Award

Finalists: Tara Dicker – South East Victoria Region, Marcos Millet – Northern Region and Jo Serra – South East Victoria Region

Winner: Belinda Callea – Western Region

Belinda (Bel) Callea has been fundamental in adopting the Teaching Family Model (TFM) – our trauma-informed model of care – in our Western region residential care homes.

Bel embraced all elements of the model and provided coaching, guidance and support to all staff during the transition of their residential care homes to Teaching Family Model homes.

Bel truly believes in this model and is passionate about providing quality care to some of Victoria’s most vulnerable young people in the community.

Not only does Bel demonstrate Berry Street’s core values in all she does, but she is a true advocate for children and young people and adopts a progressive social worker lens that focuses on self-determination and empowerment.

Working Together Team Award

Finalists: Our House & Targeted Care Packages Team – South East Victoria Region, Wattle Project – Take Two and the Finance Team – Central

Winner: Princes Highway Residential Care Home + Intensive Case Management Service + Therapeutic Specialist – South East Victoria Region

The saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ comes to mind when we think of this extraordinary group of professionals, which includes teams across a residential care home, Intensive Case Management Service and a Therapeutic Specialist.

The team is committed to providing the highest level of trauma-informed care, case planning, crisis support and therapeutic interventions for a young person in residential care. Despite significant adversity, the team committed to support this young person by using a trauma-informed approach and a strengths-based framework which optimises the young person’s self-determination, participation and healing.

Deb Kearsey Outstanding Staff member award

Finalists: Balvinder Chohan – Child and Family Services, Western Region, Rachael Coulbourn – Berry Street School, Shepparton Campus, Druma Datey – Orange Door North Eastern Melbourne Area (NEMA), Northern Region and Victoria Fawaz – People and Culture, Centra

Winner: Allen Jeffress – Restoring Childhood, Northern Region

Allen is a deeply thoughtful and respectful clinical team leader in our early intervention Restoring Childhood program who is committed to nurturing and supporting their colleagues to develop in their clinical practice.

Their dedication to trauma- and family violence-informed services and inclusive practice has been integral to the success of the Restoring Childhood team and to the development of innovative and inclusive services for clients. Allen's commitment to utilising an intersectional approach when reflecting on families’ needs is respected and valued by their team and has helped the team to develop in this area of practice.

Work with Berry Street: Join our passionate and supportive team

Working at Berry Street means being part of a passionate and supportive team. Our staff are driven by our purpose and committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for the children, young people and families we work with.

We know that we must work together to courageously change lives and reimagine the service system.