The Department of Communities held the Western Australian Signs of Safety Gathering this week, providing an opportunity for child safety practitioners to come together in the theme of ‘Safer, Stronger, Children and Families’.
The three-day event highlighted the new, culturally responsive revisions to Western Australia’s Signs of Safety Child Protection Practice Framework, ‘Culture at the Heart’, announced by the WA Government earlier this year.
“As part of our commitment to building safe and inclusive communities, keeping children and young people safe is a top priority of the Cook Government,” said Child Protection Minister, Jessica Stojkovski.
“Our government is continuously reviewing and modernising its practices to ensure we are providing best practice care to some of the most vulnerable children and young people.
“The WA Signs of Safety Gathering is a chance for child safety practitioners to come together and share and learn from each other.”
The event included the second WA Child Protection Excellence Awards which honoured nine individuals and teams for their outstanding contributions to child protection outcomes.
The awards recognise child protection practitioners and teams for their outstanding contributions in helping to keep children and young people safe across WA.
“The Child Protection Excellence Awards recognise the incredibly important role child safety practitioners play in protecting children and young people and we are truly thankful for the work they do,” said Ms Stojkovski.
“On behalf of the State Government, I extend congratulations to this year’s winners and finalists, who are doing remarkable work to build safe, inclusive communities throughout the State.”
Fifty-three nominations were received across eight categories for the 2025 Child Protection Excellence Awards. This year’s winners included:
- Minister’s Award for Excellence in Child Protection –Â Candi Mongoo, team leader – Care Team 3 Reunification (Mid West);
- Active Efforts Award – Priority Initiatives – ACCO team;
- Chief Practitioner’s Award –Â Claire Heptinstall, district director (Mid West Gascoyne);
- Child Protection Practice Excellence Award –Â West Kimberley Family Safety Service;
- Lifetime Achievement Award –Â Elizabeth Talikowski, team leader (Joondalup);
- Outstanding Metropolitan Services Award – Rockingham Leaving Care Team;
- Outstanding Regional Services Award – Kununurra Child Safety Team;
- Partnership Award – Individual – Kellie Scott, general manager, Specialist Child Protection Unit; and
- Partnership Award – Team – Cannington Leadership Team.
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognised Elizabeth Talikowski for nearly three decades of service to the sector having commenced with Department of Communities in 1996.
This year’s Minister’s Award for Excellence in Child Protection was awarded to Candi Mongoo for her culturally grounded leadership, empathy and ongoing commitment to keeping Aboriginal children connected to their families and communities.
Now in its second year, the Awards have recognised 17 individual and team winners and received nearly 150 nominations.
