The leader of one of Sutherland Shire’s key family support organisations has been rewarded for leaving a lasting impression on vulnerable people in the community.
Diane Manns, who is the chief executive of Sutherland Shire Family Services, was named as University of Wollongong’s 2018 Alumni of the Year for Social Impact..
The award recognises her commitment to the community of more than 20 years, in particular, championing the rights of children, young people and families impacted by violence or trauma.
She is known throughout the shire as an advocate for the protection of women and campaigner against domestic violence.
Ms Manns began her time at Sutherland Shire Family Services as a youth and family caseworker in 2002.
After attending the funeral of a young man who committed suicide, she secured a grant to develop the Sutherland Shire Forum Theatre program, in the aim of promoting the message of resilience and suicide prevention to high schools.
She then managed the state government’s Domestic Violence Pro Active Support Service initiative in the Sutherland Shire Police Area Command. The program received a national crime prevention award in 2009.
Concerned with the troubling trend of young adults becoming increasingly identified by police in matters of family violence, in 2009 she secured a grant to train 75 police, sexual assault counsellors, youth workers and others to facilitate the Love Bites Program in high schools.
This program remains a widely implemented tool in educating young people about domestic violence, with more than 1150 year 10 students across nine shire high schools trained in the program in the last year.
Appointed operations managers in 2011, and then chief executive three years later, Ms Manns has made it her mission to address the financial, sexual, psychological and emotional effects of domestic violence.
She was the creative force behind a 2016 film campaign, and also led the roll-out of the Toolbox Talks program a year later, to deliver domestic violence awareness training in the construction sector.
Ms Manns completed her executive MBA at the University of Wollongong last year.
She now leads a team of 40 skilled welfare workers including social workers, psychologists, family therapists, Mothercraft nurses, teachers, practitioners and law specialists.
“I am extremely humbled to be presented this award, after being nominated by community and state members, including Lee Evans and Kent Johns, former Sutherland Mayor,” she said.
“This award is not just a reflection of me personally, but the wonderful work that my team achieve in the community, assisting those impacted by trauma and disadvantage.”
