A Charles Sturt University alumna is using her social work background and lived experience to help change the lives of families with neurodivergent children. Her advocacy has earned her the Charles Sturt University Alumni Award for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Creativity.

Charles Sturt University graduate Ms Sally-Anne Stollznow was drawn to social work through a desire to help vulnerable people and communities.

She is a stalwart at Charles Sturt, having graduated with a Bachelor of Social Science (Welfare) in 2012, a Master of Social Work in 2015 and a Master of Child and Adolescent Welfare in 2023, all from this university.

Sally-Anne is a Guppi Guppi woman living and working on Worimi country. She was born in Newcastle and currently lives in Port Stephens, which fulfils her connection to the land and sea.

It is also where she has made an impact as a social worker with Services Australia for almost a decade in roles including child protection, policy authoring, field education, out-servicing, families, disability, crisis support and disaster recovery.

“The broadness of social work has taken me in many directions, all with their joys and challenges,” she said.

“I have always loved the connection to people and love hearing their stories. I pursued social work after realising my love of people's stories developed into wanting to help and support people with complex stories.”

Sally-Anne’s advocacy now focuses on the social impacts of disability, particularly those with neurodivergence.

She grew up in a home where people experienced mental health and medical challenges. She said it was a happy, loving home but she understands that not everyone experiencing these challenges has the same story.

Her personal experience continued after her son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at four years old.

“I have found my passion in supporting families that enter the early intervention phase with disabled children,” she said.

“It has been a greatly rewarding journey to develop my practice from working with families with complex challenges, to now becoming more specialised in supporting additional needs families, since becoming a special needs parent myself.”

She identified a gap in the early intervention space and realised children were engaging in therapies without understanding why.

Under the pen name Sally Marshall, she has poured her creativity into developing, writing and publishing Sid Goes to Kitty Land, a children’s book introducing autism and associated therapies to young children.

“It is an area I am so passionate about and feel myself filling a gap,” she said.

The 2024 Charles Sturt Alumni Awards recognise the personal and professional achievements of the University’s graduates, who continue to embody the University ethos of Yindyamarra Winhanganha, a Wiradjuri phrase that means the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in.

Sally-Anne was named as the winner of the Charles Sturt Alumni of the Year for Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity award.

“I am so honoured to be a recipient of the Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity Award,” she said.

“I have worked, like all students and alumni, tirelessly honing my craft.

“I am extremely proud of my published children's books on the themes of autism and so grateful to have had the opportunity to give back this knowledge and experience to the wider community.

“Social work is ever evolving, and the profession is needed more than ever so I thank Charles Sturt for shining a light on the profession to help us all support each other.”

This is not the first time Sally-Anne has been recognised for her achievements. She was named Port Stephen’s Local Woman of the Year in 2023 and was awarded the Port Stephens International Women’s Day Scholarship in 2024. She used those funds to provide a copy of her book to every local school library and publish a second book, Sid’s Friend Belle.

In 2022, she founded Wellness Through Fortitude to offer her books, specially designed NDIS participant planner and other resources to support children and families.

“The sense of personal reward, of joy, when you watch someone advocate for themselves and meet their set goals is nothing short of humbling and incredible,” she said.