Media releases

Tues 6th December 2005

Marymead wins ACT Early Intervention Award, for Excellence in Community Service

Marymead Child and Family Centre is the proud recipient of the 2005 ACT Early Intervention Award in the category of Excellence in Community Service. The award was received at a breakfast ceremony early Tuesday morning at the Boathouse Restaurant.

Marymead Child and Family is a local community-based child and family service. It aims to preserve and support families, and care for children and young people who cannot be at home. Marymead was established in Canberra in 1967 and still serves Canberra today through an ever increasing range of relevant services.

The Early Intervention award was given in recognition of their Families Together program. Families Together is a service within Marymead that offers short term intensive in-home counselling and practical support to families undergoing serious issues. The program helps the family discover its own strengths, with the aim of keeping children within their own families and giving them a more positive home environment.

“These awards are indicative of a shift in the community and government’s focus towards the importance of the early years,” says Marymead’s CEO Dawson Ruhl, “Social policy development worldwide is shifting towards early intervention and prevention, and these awards also reflect the direction set by The ACT Children’s Plan. We at Marymead are committed to early intervention in the life of children at risk, and are pleased to receive an award that recognises our ongoing work in this area.”

Marymead would like to congratulate the Families Together team on their hard work and commitment, and for winning this year's Early Intervention Award.

With the Christmas Season now upon us, Marymead would also like to thank those in the community who are contributing gifts and donations, helping them to give a brighter Christmas to Canberra’s less fortunate young people. If you would like to give, or for more information, call 6162 5800.