headspace Warwick social worker nominated for AASW National Excellence Award

In October, Youth Access Clinician at headspace Warwick, Ken Brown, was nominated for an AASW National Excellence Award.

The AASW National Excellence Awards showcase social workers, researchers, and students who exemplify the best of the profession’s values, achievements, and accomplishments.

Ken Brown has been nominated for the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Social Worker of the Year Award 2024, which acknowledges an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Social Worker who exemplifies the best of the profession’s values, achievements and accomplishments through demonstrated practice.

Self-determination in healthcare is crucial, and Darling Downs and West Moreton PHN is committed to ensuring the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our region continue to have a voice in their healthcare.

The PHN recognises the need to amplify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and celebrates Ken’s vital contributions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, who is utilising his cultural background to drive change in mental health and community support.

Award winners will be announced at the 10th International Conference on Health and Mental Health Gala Dinner on 21 November 2024 in Melbourne.

Good luck, Ken!

For more, read headspace’s press release below:

Ken Brown, a Social Worker and Youth Access Clinician at headspace Warwick, has been shortlisted for the 2024 National Excellence Award in the category of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander of the Year. Ken, who holds a Master of Social Work and a degree in Indigenous Philosophy, is recognised for his unique approach to integrating Indigenous Australian philosophical knowledge into social work practice. As a First Nations Gulidjan Australian, Ken applies his cultural background to help guide his work in mental health and community support.

Ken’s social work practice is deeply informed by Indigenous Australian philosophy, particularly in how it connects individuals to the land and each other. By drawing on the wisdom of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Ken applies these principles to support clients in managing stress, improving mental health, and reconnecting with their identity. His work bridges the gap between cultural knowledge and modern mental health social work to offer holistic, real-world solutions.

Ken’s approach focuses on listening to the land, slowing down, and cultivating “quiet still awareness.” He encourages his clients to draw strength from the natural world, helping them find balance and peace. By sharing Indigenous knowledge in an accessible way, Ken provides valuable tools for healing and growth within the social work framework.

Through Dreamtime stories and partnerships with Australian flora and fauna, Ken brings cultural knowledge into his social work practice, ensuring it plays an active role in addressing today’s challenges. His goal is to make traditional Indigenous philosophy a practical part of mental health care and social work support.