Leadership through Crisis – Celebrating Extraordinary People in Extraordinary Times
The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is proud to announce the Mollie Dyer Awards for 2021. The Awards are named in honour of our extraordinary co-founder, Aunty Mollie Dyer, who tirelessly advocated in support of Aboriginal Children, young people, and families. The Awards recognise the extraordinary work of Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have risen to the challenge of overcoming the significant difficulties of the past 12 months to deliver services, provide support and meet critical needs for Aboriginal families and communities across Victoria. Muriel is a proud Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman with traditional ties to Bunnerong and Taungurung peoples, with her dad born on Lake Tyres mission and mum raised on Cummeragunja.
“To my mother, and to all those children and families who taught me so much about their very struggle for survival and their heartache at having their children removed.” – Aunty Mollie Dyer
The Awards are presented in three categories: - Emerging Leaders (18-24 years) - Celebrating an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young person living in Victoria who showed strength and leadership in a time of need and crisis. Our young people are the next generation of change-makers and we want to celebrate how deadly they are! - Community Leaders - Recognising an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community member living in Victoria who has shown leadership through crisis. This could be by adapting to new challenges and changes, advocating for the needs of their community, or caring for community during difficult times.
- ACCO Leaders - Recognising an exceptional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander person who, through their work, has adapted to the challenges of crisis and positively contributed to the lives of Aboriginal children, young people and families. This could be through improving practice, service excellence, raising awareness, or advocating for the rights of Aboriginal children, young people and families during times of crisis.
Nominations are open for six weeks;
Monday 30 August-Friday 8 October 2021. Nominate online via awards.vacca. org, by email to awards@vacca.org, or by ‘phone on 0439 921 589.
Winners will be presented in a livestream event at the VACCA AGM on Friday 26 November 2021. Each category winner will receive a commemorative plaque and $3000 cash prize. “There are everyday heroes everywhere, and never have they been more evident than during the challenges of this past year. The Mollie Dyer Awards exemplify the work of our co-founder Aunty Mollie Dyer, and the extraordinary people who work with vision and dedication in our community.
VACCA is proud to recognise their efforts through these Awards,” said Muriel Bamblett, VACCA CEO.
About Mollie Dyer: Aunty Mollie Dyer, a proud Yorta Yorta woman, is remembered as a courageous advocate for the rights of Aboriginal children and families. She advocated tirelessly for the Aboriginal community, especially for Aboriginal children in care to be placed with Aboriginal families whenever possible. She was a co-founder of VACCA and instrumental in establishing the national peak body SNAICC. Aunty Mollie Dyer remains an inspiration to many people today.
About VACCA: The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) is Victoria’s leading Aboriginal child and family services organisation and the largest provider of Aboriginal family violence and homelessness services. We have been supporting children, young people and families within the community for over 40 years as an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation. To learn more about our work, please visit www.vacca.org.