Glebe Youth Service (GYS) is delighted to announce that our very own Eloise Woods and Jeff Hockey recently won awards at the Youth Action NSW Youth Work Awards. Jeff Hockey very deservedly won a Lifetime Achievement Award and Eloise Woods took out the NSW Emerging Youth Worker of Year Award.

Jeff Hockey has devoted his life to helping young people during a vast and varied career that has spanned almost 50 years. In recent years he has worked as the chaplain / youth worker for Sydney Secondary College and as a youth worker for Glebe Youth Service. Jeff Hockey puts young people first with a real focus on the importance of education and fair access to the justice system. He has a tremendous ability to build trust and rapport with some of Glebe’s most marginalised and hard to reach children, young people and families. His dedication, energy and passion are second to none and an inspiration to those around him. He is affectionately known by many as Uncle Jeff, or simply Mr Hockey. GYS is very pleased to see his dedication recognised.

Jeff Hockey and Eloise Woods (photo supplied by GYS)
Jeff Hockey and Eloise Woods (photo supplied by GYS)

Eloise Woods started at Glebe Youth Service undertaking a Social Work student placement. It was clear from the beginning that Eloise had outstanding talent and enormous potential. Since joining the GYS team as a paid staff member, Eloise has gone from strength to strength. She has a wonderful ability to engage at-risk young people in one on one support work. This in turn enables young people to identify and articulate personal goals and possible barriers to those goals. Through her skills and dedication, she is able to support young people to connect with a wide range of specialist supports in areas such as health, education, justice, education and housing. This in turn results in some of our community’s most disadvantaged young people overcomjng adversity and achieving their goals. Eloise is a great asset to the Glebe community. Her positive, can-do attitude is infectious and has a great impact on all those around her.

You can read more about the Youth Action Youth Awards here: http://www.youthaction.org.au/ywa19

Keiran Kevans
Glebe Youth Service

Note that the Glebe Youth Service’s AGM is being held on Tuesday 19 November, 6 for 6:30pm, 84 Glebe Point Rd. All invited.