A Charles Sturt University (CSU) graduate with a longstanding commitment to vulnerable individuals and communities has been named the recipient of a new prize to reward community service and altruism.

 

The inaugural winner of the Anglicare Regional Alliance Prize for Service and Altruism is Bachelor of Social Work graduate Ms Kylie Clark from southeast Queensland.

 

Ms Clark is employed as a social worker in Chronic and Complex Diseases in Queensland Health. It follows lengthy experience in the non-government welfare sector.

 

The CSU graduate’s work includes working with children who have a parent with a mental illness; as a facilitator to establish a ‘community readers’ program linking retired people and a local school; the establishment of a program for women in domestic violence relationships who also identify as having a mental health disorder; and with community festivals, family fun days and school holiday programs.

 

In 2010, Ms Clark travelled to India as part of the inaugural social work study tour through CSU Global. Determined that her volunteer experience would lead to change, Ms Clark and her young daughter developed a plan with a local school to raise money for an Indian orphanage.

 

“I am touched and very honoured to be the inaugural recipient of this award,” said Ms Clark. “After all, I am just doing work which I feel really passionate about.  It is a sacred space witnessing the strength, courage, and determination of another human being.”

 

The new award, to be presented to Ms Clark during her University graduation ceremony in Wagga Wagga on Monday 12 December, is part of a Memorandum of Understanding signed in early 2011 by Charles Sturt University and Anglicare Canberra-Goulburn.

 

Course Director and Senior Lecturer at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at CSU in Wagga Wagga, Dr Bill Anscombe said there is a natural fit between the social work program at Charles Sturt University and Anglicare’s commitment  to the Christian concepts of grace, selflessness and service.

 

“This prize is awarded to Kylie as she has clearly demonstrated voluntary and sustained commitment to the ideals of human rights and social justice through selflessness and altruism.”

 

Meanwhile, the annual Lila Kirilik Memorial Social Justice Award for 2011 will be presented to another Bachelor of Social Work graduate from Queensland, Mr Ty Green.

 

The CSU graduate is now employed as the Indigenous Program Coordinator for Queensland Health’s Evolve Therapeutic Service, Ipswich. The Service works with three other government agencies to provide consistent support for children and young people with severe psychological and behavioural problems who live in out of home care

 

Mr Green was selected for the award for his support in the delivery of culturally appropriate clinical services by Evolve Therapeutic Services to Indigenous children during his workplace learning. He was also chosen as the 2011 recipient of the Award for his work placement with Queensland Health’s Prison Mental Health Service where he worked to increase the awareness of Indigenous mental health in the service and advocate for culturally appropriate service delivery. In addition, Mr Green was involved in a research project investigating mental health issues and the needs for Indigenous people within Queensland’s correctional system.

 

The Award commemorates Ms Lila Kirilik, a Senior Lecturer in social welfare at CSU in Wagga Wagga, who died in 2002. It rewards a student's work for ‘social justice, equity, empowerment and self determination’.

 

Both Ms Clarke and Mr Green are due to accept their awards during the graduation ceremony in Joyes Hall at CSU in Wagga Wagga from 5.30pm on Monday 12 December. Almost 960 graduates are due to attend six ceremonies in Joyes Hall at CSU in Wagga from Monday 12 to Wednesday 14 December.

Read more about the social work and human services programs offered through the University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences here.