The Kids in Community Awards
How to Nominate | Nomination Forms | Media Reporting on Youth Awards | Guest SpeakersDo you know someone who is actively making a difference? Express your appreciation by nominating them for a Kids in Community Award. Nominating is an important way to thank the inspirational young people and ‘quiet achievers’ who enrich our community.
The KiC Awards:
- recognise young people for their positive efforts within our community
- highlight the important role of youth in building strong communities
- provide an opportunity for individuals, family members, community groups and businesses to express appreciation for the positive actions of our youth.
- benefit the entire community, by:
- encouraging young people – raising awareness of how positive actions and attitudes benefit other young people and the whole community
- raising public awareness – calling attention to local issues affecting youth, and creating an opportunity for community involvement
- acknowledging the role of our sponsors – publicising their support through newspaper, radio, television, community and school newsletters
- helping youth workers and educators – reinforcing the value of their work and providing information about the materials, programs and services available to assist young people
- supporting community service projects – communicating information about projects which help youth play an active role in community life.
Guest Speakers
Di Morrissey
Guest Speaker at Kids in Community Media Launch - 4 April 2006
Di said the role of mentoring and encouragement for youth was undervalued in today’s society. She told the audience how, when she was a child, poet Dorothea Mackellar had encouraged her to write stories. She also commended the group of mothers who came up with the idea of the Kids In Community Awards six years ago
“If a little band of worried mothers can come up with the idea of supporting, recognising and applauding the achievements of young people in our community, of inspiring and encouraging them, of bringing together community groups, individuals and organisations to support our kids in their efforts – then I say not only well done but bravo,” she said. “We owe it to our kids to help and support them, we owe it to our community, and we owe it to ourselves. We are more than a village raising its children. We are all family, and by banding together to put our faith, trust, love and encouragement behind our children, we are investing in their future, and indeed our own”.
Adam Pine
In 2001 I was a presenter at the Kids In Community Awards Evening held at the Ballina RSL Club. I grew up on the North Coast of NSW and I was pleased and honoured to speak in the town I had spent many teenage years swimming in. The awards night proved to be a very special night and this unique event is now held annually. I would like to pay tribute to the Kids In Community awards and also to the committee who over recent years have grown this evening from small beginnings to a very special event where young people can
share stories and support each other. The KIC awards committee is interested in the health and wellbeing of our local youth.
Through my sport, swimming I have had the opportunity to realise a dream and represent my country. I have been recognized and rewarded. The KIC awards recognise people for positive efforts and can assist youth in their journey to adulthood just as swimming has shaped my journey.
I urge people to start thinking about potential nominees. Start looking in your neighbourhood, schools and sporting clubs and nominate those putting a little more effort into the community.
I am currently a sports consultant with the ASC as well as a committed athlete. For those interested in setting up a sporting club or wanting information on developing their club so they can provide the best possible service to their members please visit our club development network website: www.ausport.gov.au/clubs
Bronwyn Donaghy
Bronwyn Donaghy was an author and journalist who wrote about family issues for more than 20 years and since l995 was particularly involved in adolescent health. A mother of three in Sydney's north-western suburb of Baulkham Hills, she brought down-to-earth pragmatism, common sense, honesty and humour to her professional and private life equally. She died on the 23 July 2002, just two weeks after an acclaimed keynote address at the AHISA conference in Brisbane.
On her website www.bronwyndonaghy.com you will find information on Bronwyn's life, achievements and philosophies, her publications, her talks, her articles, her bestselling title "Anna's Story" and her new adult novel "Small Acts of Kindness".
Bronwyn is forever linked to the Northern Rivers area attending Lismore Heights Public School and Richmond River High School before joining the Northern Star Newspaper as a junior cadet. She was the guest speaker at the inaugural 2000 Kids in Community Awards. Afterwards Bronwyn wrote the following:
"Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to return to lovely Lismore, the town where I grew up, to speak at the inaugural Kids in Community Awards 2000, at which young people from your area were recognised for their contribution to all aspects of community life. Among the nominees were kids
who helped the disabled, kids who were working towards racial integration, kids who helped runaways, kids who helped each other. How wonderful to see young people from a wide variety of backgrounds (not just the high
achievers, although they should be applauded as well) getting encouragement from their peers, their parents and the local people.
As an author of several books on adolescent health, dealing with drugs, sadness, suicide and sexuality, I have spoken to thousands of parents about the need to recognise the potential, the energy and the kindness of which our teenagers are capable, rather than assuming that during the years when they grow and go, they will all be self-centred, sulky, risk-taking rebels.
It took a visit "home" to see young Australians getting the recognition they deserve. Congratulations to everyone involved in the KIC awards and I do hope this becomes an annual event! Lismore could set a precedent for the rest of Australia to follow.
Bronwyn Donaghy
Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
14 September 2000"