Recognition for Dr Joe Tucci in the 2024 Leaving A Legacy Award

The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare is delighted to announce that Joe Tucci, former CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation, has been awarded the Leaving a Legacy Award for 2024.

The annual Victorian Protecting Children Awards recognise and celebrate individuals, teams and groups who demonstrate excellence in working with children, young people and families.

The Centre’s CEO, Deb Tsorbaris, presented the award at the Victoria Child Protection Awards on September 3 in Melbourne. It was accepted on behalf of his family by Australian Childhood Foundation CEO Janise Mitchell.

Ms Tsobaris said the Centre’s member organisations and sector see this award as the pinnacle of career achievement. Recipients have worked to effect change in the lives of children and have been able to move the needle and help set the expectations and aspirations for the world we want our children to grow up in.

“Dr Joe Tucci was a deeply passionate, tireless, and fearless advocate for children’s rights and needs and is this year’s winner. He passed away in March 2024 after a very short illness”, she said.

A registered psychologist and social worker, Dr Tucci worked for over 30 years in child protection, working therapeutically with children, leading research into child abuse, and consulting across state and federal governments.

Dr Tucci was a driving force behind the establishment of the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse and was its inaugural chairperson. He developed a clear vision and national commitment to end child abuse and improve the lives of children, young people and their families.  

His leadership and direct contribution to a range of areas, including disclosures of child sexual abuse and harmful sexual behaviours research, form a critical foundation for achieving his vision. As CEO of the Australian Childhood Foundation, Dr Tucci was an international leader in models of prevention and repair of childhood trauma.

“I share my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues. I know we all continue to hold Joe’s vision and passion to create a world that is safe for children very close to our hearts.”

Ms Mitchell said Dr Tucci was a very humble person who had made an enormous contribution to the way people think about the rights and needs of children and young people.

“Children need us to stand in their corner; if we don’t, who will? That was his motto, and we are part of his living legacy. He is still with us in the way that we think, in the stands we take, and in the values we hold. I think that his legacy is our work ahead,” said Ms Mitchell.

Dr Tucci is the fourth recipient of the Centre’s Leaving a Legacy award. They are

• Connie Salamone from VACCA
• Luke Rumbold director of Upper Murray Family Care
• and the late Gerard Jones – former deputy CEO of MacKillop and a pioneer in our sector.

Learn more about the winners of the 2024 Victorian Protecting Children Awards here.