Dr Robyn Miller, CEO of MacKillop Family Services, has been voted among the sector’s most inspiring and influential leaders in the Pro Bono Impact 25 Awards 2021.
More than 19,000 people voted from a shortlist of 150 to select this
year’s Impact 25 winners, who have been picked for their innovation,
influence, and collaboration following one of the toughest years of our
times.
Dr Miller was nominated for implementing an innovative program to
help young people in out of home care (OOHC) who are at risk of child
sexual abuse. Power to Kids teaches young people – and the carers who
work with them – strategies to recognise and intervene early when they
are the targets of harmful sexual behaviour, sexual exploitation and
dating violence. Young people in care are at a greater risk and until Power to Kids program was launched there was a absence of evaluated and targeted programs.
Honoured to be selected for the prestigious award, Dr Miller paid
tribute to her colleagues and said the need to find ways to prevent harm
and protect vulnerable children, young people and their families,
drives her work.
“I’ve worked in the field of child protection for more than 30 years
and knowing that there are kids at risk who urgently need help can still
keep me up at night. We are making a difference, but it is a constant
and growing need I am inspired by the amazing children and young people
we work with who have responded to the program so well.
“Child protection and looking after children in care is vitally
important work. I work with the most inspiring, caring, and
compassionate people in this sector who are committed to prevention and
best practice. It’s a human rights issue and as providers of services we
need to be smarter.
“I feel honoured to be selected alongside such an inspirational
group of Impact 25 winners and I’m thankful that the people who voted
understand the importance of the work we do and want to see protection
put in place for young people in residential care,” Dr Miller said.
As CEO of MacKillop Family Services, Dr Miller led a pilot of the
Power to Kids program in MacKillop’s residential care homes. The data
was so positive, MacKillop secured funding from Westpac to implement the
program in residential homes across Australia.
The Impact 25 winners will be celebrated in a virtual awards
celebration on 31 March, featuring special guests Greg Mullins AO AFSM,
former Fire and Rescue NSW commissioner and councillor at Climate
Council; Aunty Fay Stewart-Muir, senior Boon Wurrung and Wamba Wamba
elder; and Melanie Mununggurr-Williams, Djapu writer and 2018 Australian
Slam Poetry Champion.