Dear Colleague,

It is with both pride and delight that I take the opportunity to welcome you to the Social Worker of the Year Awards for 2012.  It has been my privilege to be involved in the Awards since their launch in 2009 – and to be inspired by the diversity of our profession, and the positive impact we have with individuals, families and communities. It is a profession worth celebrating – please consider a social worker whose work deserves that celebration and recognition, and download a nomination form!

A great deal of work year-round goes into organizing such an event.  We are fortunate to have a dynamic and engaged Organising Committee, the support of the AASW (WA) Branch Office and in particular Sophie Mason, and Cindy Gorton and Neil Carver-Smith, our Awards Secretariat.

This year we have added a new event to the Awards calendar with a launch party on Wednesday 6 June 2012. Our thanks to Hays Recruitment for their help with this.

Please take some time to read the message below from our Patron Jan Stewart, peruse the website – and then
nominate a social worker!

I look forward to meeting you at our Awards night on 5 November 2012.

Best Regards
Katrina Stratton
Chairperson
Awards Organising Committee




“As Patron of the WA Social Worker of the Year Awards I am pleased to launch the 2012 Awards and invite nominations across the five Award categories.

The 2011 Awards successfully recognised the wide ranging, creative and useful contributions made by all the social workers nominated for an award to the quality of life of individuals, families and the wider West Australian community. The calibre of the finalists and winners for 2011 was most impressive, demonstrating the innovative practice undertaken by our social work profession. I look forward to another year of inspiring entries.

I believe it is very important that we acknowledge the members of our profession and publicly honour the often unrecognised stories of caring and courage which our colleagues demonstrate. I encourage people from all walks of life to nominate a social worker: a social worker making an outstanding contribution in their work for clients, community and the social work profession.”


Regards,
Jan Stewart, PSM. BA. MSW [University of Western Australia]
Chief Executive Officer
Lotterywest