Karyn Walsh received a special commendation at the inaugural PeakCare awards in November 2019. Karyn’s award was for … “an individual for their lifetime contribution to the wellbeing of Queensland children, young people, parents and families”.
PeakCare is Queensland's peak organisation for child protection.
Our Caboolture Young Mothers for Young Women (YMYW) Team was awarded the Metro North Hospital and Health Service Award for Excellence in Integrated Care.
Caboolture YMYW works in partnership with the Caboolture Hospital to make sure young pregnant women in the Caboolture, Kilcoy areas can access maternity care.
Caboolture YMYW assists young, pregnant and parenting women, 20 years and under, along with their children and families. The team provides peer and professional support to assist young pregnant and parenting women in practical ways, allowing them to participate socially and economically within their community.
The Homeless to Home Healthcare After Hours Service which is a Mater and Micah Projects collaboration, was conferred the team award for providing care and support to people who are rough sleeping and actively engaging with them regarding their healthcare.
Each night two teams that include a registered nurse and a Street to Home outreach worker deliver health and housing support to people who are rough sleeping and to those who have made a transition from homelessness to housing, but who require ongoing and consistent social support and healthcare.
“These highly skilled and trained nursed are trusted, compassionate and respected by the community,” the nominator said.
Homeless to Home Healthcare After Hours Service Manager Kim Rayner said the team was surprised and thrilled to receive the award.
“It’s such a great boost and acknowledgement of the work we do,” Kim said.
“We work so hard to advocate for our patients and I believe the program aligns perfectly with Mater’s values and philosophy,” she said.
The Mercy Awards are held each year as part of Mater’s Mercy Week to celebrate Mater’s identity and the heritage of the Sisters of Mercy.
The Business South Bank (BSB) Sustainability Award is presented annually to a BSB member that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the principles of sustainability.
Micah Projects won the 2014 BSB Sustainability Award for our systematic approach to sustainability.
Micah Projects in partnership with the Queensland Police were awarded the Community Initiative Award for our Youth Cultural Hot Spot Response.
Photo from left: Corey Allen, Acting Inspector, City Central Patrol Group, North Brisbane District; Jim DeCouto, Molisi Sione and Karyn Walsh from Micah Projects.
Homeless to Home Healthcare, an initiative of Mater Health Services and Micah Projects, focuses on the health and well-being of people who are homeless or vulnerably housed. St Vincent's Private Hospital Brisbane was welcomed to the innovative partnership this year.
Photo from left: Martin Laverty, Catholic Health Australia; Jim DeCouto, Micah Projects; Cheryle Royle, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane; Ros Butler, Homeless to Home Healthcare and Madonna McGahan, Mater Health Services.
Micah Projects and Partners were one of seven organisations awarded a National Homelessness Services Achievement Award.
We were granted the Excellence or innovation in partnerships in delivering services Award for our Homeless to Home Healthcare Program. The Program is a partnership between Micah Projects, Mater Health Services, St Vincent’s Health Care, Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local and Metro North Medicare Local, Queensland.
Karyn Walsh, CEO of Micah Projects, said the Award demonstrated the importance of building partnerships to improve the access to services for people who are not only homeless but also dealing with significant health issues such as cancer and chronic disease.
Photo from left: Jim DeCouto, Karyn Walsh (Micah Projects), Madonna McGahan (Mater Health Services) and Kim Rayner (Micah Projects).
The Awards recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions community organisations make to support people who are homeless in our communities.
The Awards also showcase excellence and innovation by organisations, services and programs responding to the needs of people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
Micah Projects received a 'highly commended' award for excellence or innovation in addressing homelessness by an organisation.
Micah Projects CEO Karyn Walsh was conferred The WestEnder Award, at the inaugural Local Legends Awards.
Photo: Cr Helen Abrahams, Karyn Walsh and Jackie Trad MP.
Text from the Award Presentation...
"Karyn Walsh epitomises what it means to be a ‘Westender’. With more than 30 years’ experience working in the community sector and as the CEO of Micah Projects, Karyn is an inspiration and a committed and tireless worker. She is dedicated to both the local and extended community through her co-ordination of people, resources, personal involvement and advocacy so that and I quote from Karyn “every child and adult has the right to a home, an income, health care, education, safety, dignity and connection within their community of choice.”
The Common Ground building in Hope Street is Karyn’s exceptional achievement. Karyn saw the benefits of the Common Ground model of supported accommodation when in America. She skilfully managed to negotiate funding for the Brisbane Common Ground Project during the time Kevin Rudd MP was Prime Minister. She then juggled the development approval, funding details and construction process involving three tiers of Government, and the 2011 flood, to make Brisbane Common Ground a reality in our community. Micah Projects successfully tendered and won the contract to deliver the on-site support services for the 146 residents. In between organisational commitments, media or crisis responses, Karyn can be found happily doing the dishes following a common meal at Common Ground."
Micah Projects received the Mercy Foundation Social Justice Award 2011 for our work on 'addressing the housing and support needs of homeless people in Brisbane'.
Photo: Mercy Foundation CEO Felicity Reynolds and our CEO Karyn Walsh accepting the award.