Winners of the Media Awards 2021 announced

• Victoria’s peak body for child and family services has recognised ethical and respectful journalism on issues affecting children, young people and families experiencing vulnerability.
• As part of the Centre’s annual media awards, five awards have been presented on news stories covering topics including family violence, out-of-home care and homelessness.

Excellence in reporting on issues affecting children, young people and families has been recognised by the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (the Centre) with five awards (four winners and one highly commended) announced at the Centre’s annual general meeting on 25 November 2021.

The Centre’s Media Awards celebrate the efforts of Victorian journalists across print, TV, radio and digital who have sought to elevate the voices of children, young people and families experiencing vulnerability.

The winners were selected by a panel consisting of Centre CEO Deb Tsorbaris; an Advisor from the office of the Minister for Child Protection, Disability, Ageing and Carers; the CEO of Anglicare, Paul McDonald; and a young person with a lived experience of out of home care. Through their discussions, they came to select a winner of each category. The criteria for each category are below:

The winners recognised are:

• Best story about children – winner: Nick McKenzie, 60 Minutes (channel 9), ‘Brave Sam’s message to child victims of family violence’
• Best story about families – winner: Neryssa Azlan, ABC, ‘Muslims and non-Muslims in Australia on sharing the spirit of Ramadan’
• Best story about children or young people in out-of-home care – winner: Rochelle Kirkham, Ballarat Courier, ‘Supporting Aboriginal children in out of home care’
• Best story about young people – winner: Rachel Eddie, The Age, ‘I turned my scars into strength’: Victoria gets LGBTI homelessness support’
• Best story about young people – highly commended: Biwa Kwan, SBS, ‘Young people in Victoria are being racially abused – but they aren’t speaking up about it’

The winners were selected from a shortlist for each category, which included impressive stories from ABC, The Age, SBS and rural and regional publications.

The panellists agreed the winning stories all engaged with and represented children, young people and families in a dignified and respectful way. They also noted the journalists’ efforts to make issues facing individuals and families experiencing hardship relevant and accessible for their audiences.

Centre CEO Deb Tsorbaris applauded the winners for their reporting.

“There was some exceptional journalism on children and families this year, and choosing the winners was no easy task. I’d like to thank all the journalists who reported on the issues affecting our sector this year – your contribution is vital.”, Ms Tsorbaris said.

See the full list of finalists.

Media contact: Katie Wand (katie.wand@cfecfw.asn.au)